The Golden State Warriors scored an important victory in the battle for the playoff spots against a direct competitor before the NBA All-Star break. Superstar Stephen Curry’s team won 140:137 (84:71) over the Utah Jazz. In tenth place in the Western Conference, the 2022 champions can at least still have hopes of making the playoffs. The eleventh-placed Utah Jazz would miss the finals of the North American Basketball League.
Klay Thompson became the best scorer with a personal season-high of 35 points, although the 34-year-old only started a game from the bench for the first time since his debut season in 2011/12. Thompson hit seven three-pointers. Curry remained unremarkable by his standards with 16 points. The Warriors have won their last five road games.
The Milwaukee Bucks around superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo lost their last game before the All-Star break, with the 2021 champions losing out to the Memphis Grizzlies with 110:113 (57:57). Even 35 points from Antetokounmpo couldn’t prevent Milwaukee from losing for the second time in a row. The Minnesota Timberwolves cemented their status as the best team in the Western Conference with a 128:91 (66:51) away win at the Portland Trail Blazers.
League operations in the NBA are now on pause because the All-Star weekend is coming up in Indianapolis. The best players in the league compete against each other at the show event.
