STEPHEN Curry poured in 26 points in 22 minutes and the Golden State Warriors produced a record-setting first quarter as they clinched a Western Conference playoff spot with a 157-101 shellacking of the host Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday afternoon (Monday in Manila).
All 13 players who suited up scored for the Warriors, who wound up in sixth place in the West. The Los Angeles Clippers won at Phoenix to finish tied with Golden State, but Los Angeles held the tiebreaker to earn the fifth seed. The Warriors draw the third-seeded Kings in the first round of the playoffs.
Needing a win to assure themselves a playoff spot, the Warriors wasted no time leaving the Trail Blazers in the dust. They set an NBA record for first-quarter points with 55, making 20 of 29 shots overall and 12 of 18 from 3-point range en route to a 28-point lead. In wrapping up the regular season on an 8-2 roll, the Warriors shot 60.4 percent overall and 55.1 percent (27 of 49) from deep. The 27 treys tied a franchise record.
All five Trail Blazers starters scored in double figures, led by Skylar Mays with 21 points.
Mays also handed out a game-high 12 assists. Shaedon Sharpe added 18 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds, while Jeenathan Williams had 17 points for Portland.
In other games, it was the Clippers 119, Suns 114; Wolves 113, Pelicans 108; Heat 123, Magic 110; Celtics 120, Hawks 114; Lakers 128, Jazz 117; Bulls 103, Pistons 81; Hornets 106, Cavs 95; Sixers 134, Nets 105; Pacers 141, Knicks 136;; Rockets 114, Wizards 109; Raptors 121, Bucks 105; Spurs 138, Mavs 117; Nuggets 109, Kings 95; and Thunder 115, Grizzlies 100.
Clippers 119, Suns 114
Norman Powell scored 29 points off the bench, Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook added 25 apiece and visiting Los Angeles secured the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a win over Phoenix.
Leonard scored the last eight points for the Clippers and finished with a season-high 15 rebounds plus six assists. Bones Hyland scored 11 points and Ivica Zubac had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers, who won despite shooting 5 of 23 (21.7 percent) from 3-point range and 16 of 24 (66.7 percent) from the foul line.
Saben Lee led Phoenix with a career-high 25 points and a season-high nine assists. Darius Bazley scored 16 points, Jock Landale added 15, Landry Shamet had 14 and Josh Okogie and Terrence Ross chipped in 13 apiece. The Suns rested starters Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton. — Field Level Media
