Stephen Curry scored 37 points and Brandin Podziemski added 28 with a career-high eight 3-pointers as visiting the Golden State Warriors gained a game on the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference playoff race with a 123-116 win on Thursday night.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 18 points for the Warriors, while Jimmy Butler III had seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. Golden State is 20-4 since Butler joined the team in a February trade from the Miami Heat, and the Warriors now sit one game behind the fourth-place Lakers in the West.
LeBron James scored 33 points and Austin Reaves added 31 with a career-high nine 3-pointers for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura scored 24 points and Luka Doncic added 19.
Curry and James exchanged 3-pointers as the Lakers remained within striking distance at 114-107 with 1:51 left before Podziemski dealt the decisive blow on a 3-pointer with 1:32 left for a 117-107 lead.
Bucks 126, 76ers 113
Giannis Antetokounmpo put forth a monster triple-double with 35 points, a career-high 20 assists and 17 rebounds to lead visiting Milwaukee over slumping Philadelphia.
It was the first 30-15-15 game in Antetokounmpo’s career and, according to the Bucks, the first 35-20-17 game in NBA history as he helped Milwaukee win its second in a row. Six other Bucks scored in double figures, led by 17 from Brook Lopez.
Adem Bona scored 28 points on 13-for-15 shooting for Philadelphia, which lost its 10th consecutive game. Quentin Grimes added 24 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 22.
Grizzlies 110, Heat 108
Ja Morant hit a step-back jumper in the lane over 7-footer Kel’el Ware at the buzzer as visiting Memphis ended Miami’s six-game winning streak.
The Grizzlies snapped a four-game losing streak behind Morant, who finished with 30 points, including 27 in the second half. Desmond Bane contributed 17 points and nine rebounds and Scotty Pippen Jr. came off the bench to contribute 17 points and seven assists. Zach Edey grabbed 13 rebounds.
Tyler Herro led the Heat with 35 points and nine rebounds, Bam Adebayo added 26 points and seven boards and Ware finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Timberwolves 105, Nets 90
Anthony Edwards survived an injury scare and scored 28 points as Minnesota cruised to a win at Brooklyn.
Edwards returned from an ankle injury in the second half, when he scored 13 points as the Timberwolves won their fourth game in a row. Rudy Gobert tallied 21 points and 18 rebounds and Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 13 points.
Nic Claxton shot 9-for-10 and scored a team-high 18 points for the lottery-bound Nets, who had their two-game winning streak snapped as they fell to 4-17 since Feb. 24. Dariq Whitehead added 17 points.
Magic 109, Wizards 97
Paolo Banchero scored 33 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds while leading Orlando to a win over host Washington.
Banchero made 11 of 24 attempts from the field, 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and dished out eight assists. Franz Wagner was also crucial to Orlando’s effort, finishing with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 13 points and five assists and Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 10 points and seven rebounds as the Magic earned their sixth win in eight games.
Wizards rookie Bub Carrington surpassed his previous career high of 23 points by nine, finishing with 32 on an efficient 12-for-18 from the field and 7-for-10 from long distance. Carrington also logged team highs of nine rebounds and seven assists as Washington took its ninth loss in 11 games. Marcus Smart added 12 points for Washington, while 2024 No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr finished with 10 points on just 4-of-16 shooting.
Trail Blazers 112, Raptors 103
Shaedon Sharpe, a native of London, Ontario, matched his career best with 36 points as visiting Portland defeated Toronto.
Deni Avdija added 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who earned their second win in a row. Dalano Banton matched his season best with 23 points.
RJ Barrett scored 18 points for the Raptors, who have dropped two straight. Ochai Agbaji added 15 points.
