Golden State Warriors Blog – Page 57 – NBA Blog

David Lee injured, out for rest of 2013 playoffs

Golden State Warriors forward David Lee will miss the remainder of the 2013 NBA Playoffs due to a complete tear of his right hip flexor, the team announced today following an MRI that was conducted this morning.

Lee, 29, registered 10 points and 14 rebounds in 29 minutes during last night’s Game 1 loss against the Denver Nuggets before leaving the contest with 11:33 remaining in the fourth quarter due to the injury.

In 79 games during the regular season, Lee averaged 18.5 points (15th in NBA), 11.2 rebounds (T-4th), 3.5 assists and 36.8 minutes per contest, earning a spot on the Western Conference All-Star Team. The 6’9” forward led the league with 56 point/rebound double-doubles, becoming the first Warriors player to lead the NBA in the category since Wilt Chamberlain in 1963-64.

This really damages the Warriors’ playoff hopes. They’re currently in the first round of the postseason, matched up against the Denver Nuggets. Although Denver has some key injuries as well, the Warriors frontcourt is pretty empty without Lee’s services.

Stephen Curry sets new NBA single-season three-point record

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has established a new NBA single-season three-point record with 272 three-pointers made, surpassing the previous record of 269 set by Ray Allen for the Seattle SuperSonics in 2005-06. Curry established the new mark in tonight’s regular-season finale at Portland, connecting on 4-of-11 attempts in a 99-88 Warriors victory over the Trail Blazers. He entered the contest needing one three-pointer to tie, and two to surpass, the previous record. Curry broke Allen’s record despite attempting 53 less three-pointers than Allen did in 2005-06.

Curry, 25, not only led the NBA in three-pointers made in 2012-13, but also finished third in three-point field goal percentage by connecting on 272-of-600 (.453) attempts from long range. The 6-3 guard is the first player in NBA history to hit 250 three-pointers and dish out 500 assists in a single season and is the second player in league history to hit 200-or-more threes in a season on 45 percent-or-better, joining Glen Rice, who did so in 1995-96.

Overall, Curry averaged career highs of 22.9 points (7th in NBA) and 6.9 assists (T-15th) to go with 4.0 rebounds, 1.62 steals and 38.2 minutes (7th) in 78 games during the regular season.

Earlier this season, Curry announced that for every three-pointer made he would donate three life-saving bed nets to the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, which distributes insecticide-treated mosquito nets to protect families across Africa from malaria. A committed champion of Nothing But Nets since his time at Davidson, Curry’s record-setting season translates to 816 bed nets that will help hundreds families sleep safe from infection.

Warriors sign Scott Machado for remainder of season

The Golden State Warriors have signed guard Scott Machado (muh-CHAH-doe) for the remainder of the season, the team announced today. Machado is currently on assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, who begin their second round D-League playoff series today against the Austin Toros in Texas.

Machado, 22, was originally signed to a 10-day contract as a GATORADE Call-UP from the Santa Cruz Warriors on April 7. The following day (on April 8) he was assigned to Santa Cruz where he averaged 4.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per contest as Santa Cruz swept its first round playoff series against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Overall this season, Machado appeared in 28 D-League regular-season games combined with Santa Cruz and Rio Grande Valley, averaging 8.9 points 2.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest.

Warriors center Andrew Bogut sprains left ankle

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut sprained his surgically repaired left ankle against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.

Warriors coach Mark Jackson said Bogut was not expected to make the trip to Los Angeles for Friday night’s game against the Lakers.

Bogut exited Golden State’s 116-97 loss with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter. He went to the locker room for observation and did not return to the bench.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Kevin Durant dominates, Thunder beat Warriors 116-97

Russell Westbrook blocked Stephen Curry’s layup, Kevin Durant corralled the ball and dribbled down court. He threw down a soaring dunk at full extension, then pretended to slice his throat and crossed his hands in prayer.

”Kill ’em and pray for ’em after the game,” Durant said of his new celebration.

Durant finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help the Oklahoma City Thunder regain the Western Conference’s best record with a 116-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

”It’s nothing against the team I’m playing against,” Durant said of his animated moves, adding that somebody encouraged him to do it following a highlight dunk. ”Come out with a mindset and be friends after the game.”

With Durant leading the way, that’s just what the Thunder did.

Kevin Martin scored 23 points off the bench and Russell Westbrook added 18 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who moved a half-game ahead of idle San Antonio for the top seed. The Spurs split the season series with Oklahoma City, but the Thunder (58-21) own the tiebreaker because of its better conference record…

Curry scored 22 points and reserve Jarrett Jack had 19 points on a night the Warriors lost center Andrew Bogut to another injury. The 7-footer left in the first quarter with a sprained left ankle…

Ibaka finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Durant was 10 for 16 from the floor, helping the Thunder outshoot the Warriors 50.6 to 44 percent.

— Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Warriors clinch spot in 2013 NBA playoffs

Chants of ”Playoffs! Playoffs! Playoffs!” rang out from fans. Confetti flew around the lower bowl of the arena. Finally, the public address announcer told the crowd what they had longed to hear: ”The Golden State Warriors are heading to the 2013 NBA playoffs!”

Believe it.

Klay Thompson scored 25 of his 30 points in the first half, Stephen Curry added 24 points and 10 assists and the Warriors clinched their first playoff berth since 2007 by routing the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-89 on Tuesday night.

”We celebrated. Rightfully so,” teary-eyed and red-faced Warriors coach Mark Jackson said after emerging from the locker room. ”People questioned us, and they should have. People doubted us, and they should have. They underestimated the heart, the desire, the work ethic, the determination, the willingness to put in the time.”

At long last, Bay Area basketball fans have reason to cheer again.

David Lee finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds to propel the Warriors to just their second postseason appearance in 19 years. Co-owner Joe Lacob shared hugs and handshakes with fans from his courtside seat, raising his right hand to the 30th straight sellout crowd announced at 19,596.

— Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Warriors assign Scott Machado to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have assigned guard Scott Machado to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Machado was signed by the Warriors as a “Call-Up” from Santa Cruz on April 7. He appeared in 10 games for the Warriors’ D-League affiliate prior to his call-up, averaging 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 15.0 minutes. In 28 D-League games combined this year with Santa Cruz and Rio Grande Valley, Machado has averaged 8.9 points 2.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest.

The Santa Cruz Warriors earned the #3 seed in the NBA D-League Playoffs and begin their first round series on the road against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Wednesday, April 10.

Jazz beat Warriors 97-90, regain 8th spot in West

Some Utah Jazz players watched the Lakers-Clippers game on a big-screen television inside the locker room while they prepared to face the Golden State Warriors. Others followed the contest on cellphones while riding on the late bus to the arena. Coach Tyrone Corbin just checked the final score when the Lakers lost.

”You could see the look on everybody’s face change,” Jazz guard Randy Foye said. ”Nobody said anything. It was just everybody had that look on their face, ‘You know what time it is. You know what we have to do.”’

While the Warriors had a chance to seal a playoff spot, Utah seized the opportunity for itself.

Mo Williams hit a huge 3-pointer in the final seconds to finish with 25 points, Al Jefferson added 19 points and 12 rebounds and the Jazz regained the Western Conference’s final playoff position over the Lakers by holding off the Warriors 97-90 on Sunday night for a monumental road win…

Williams’ 3-pointer with 13.4 seconds remaining put Utah ahead by six and spoiled Golden State’s shot to clinch a playoff berth in front of a 29th sellout crowd of 19,596. The Jazz moved a half-game ahead of the Lakers for the eighth seed. Utah also owns the tiebreaker after winning the season series 2-1 against the Lakers, who lost to the Clippers 109-95 earlier in the day…

Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half and Klay Thompson had 20 points for the Warriors, who were trying to clinch a postseason spot for the first time since 2007 and just the second in 19 years…

David Lee, who has never been to the playoffs in his eight NBA seasons, added 21 points and 13 rebounds for Golden State, which was outplayed inside by Utah’s front line of Jefferson, Derrick Favors (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Paul Millsap (11 points, six rebounds) most of the way.

— Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Warriors sign guard Scott Machado to 10-day contract

The Golden State Warriors have signed guard Scott Machado (muh-CHAH-doe) to a 10-day contract, the team announced today. Machado joins the team from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, marking the 33rd D-League to NBA “Call-Up” of the 2012-13 NBA season.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle blog, “Machado just got back from New York, where he had to bury his 61-year-old father. Luiz Machado, a livery cab driver, suffered a fatal heart attack while being arrested by for taking illegal fares by Taxi and Limousine Commission officers at Kennedy Airport on March 28. The New York Daily News reported that Luiz Machado was left in a gutter and without critical medical care for as long as 11 minutes, which triggered the Medical Examiner’s Office to rule the death a homicide. “He was a big hoops fan,” Scott Machado said, “so I know he’ll be watching.”

Machado, 22, was acquired by Santa Cruz via trade from Rio Grande Valley on March 8 and has appeared in 10 games for the Warriors’ D-League affiliate, averaging 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 15.0 minutes. In 28 D-League games combined this year with Santa Cruz and Rio Grande Valley, Machado has averaged 8.9 points 2.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest.

After going undrafted out of Iona in the 2012 NBA Draft, Machado was signed as a free agent on September 7, 2012, by the Houston Rockets after playing with the Rockets Summer League squad in Las Vegas. The 6’1” guard appeared in six NBA games with the Rockets, tallying eight points and six assists in 21 total minutes. He was waived by the Rockets on January 7.

Machado, who was named the 2012 MAAC Player of the Year and led the nation in assists (327) during his senior season at Iona, will wear uniform #1 for Golden State. The Warriors roster now stands at 14 players.

Warriors coach Mark Jackson shortens his rotation

The last two games, Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has played 43 and 46 minutes. His back up, Jarrett Jack, has played 33 and 35 minutes the last two games. Conversely, rookie reserves Draymond Green and Kent Bazemore totaled just over 8 minutes the last two games. Veteran Richard Jefferson hasn’t played at all.

Jackson has noticeably shortened his rotation. He’s primarily playing the five starters and Jack off the bench. He’s been mixing in forward Carl Landry and rookie center Festus Ezeli off the bench.

JACKSON: “It’s a combination of both shortening the rotation and reading (the situations). It doesn’t mean those guys aren’t going to play. … The good teams that I’ve been on, the good teams that I’ve watched, this time of year you shorten it.”

As the Warriors shift into playoff mode, Jackson is bracing his team for the intensity of the posteason. Possessions will matter more. The level of play will increase. That means less room for error, and less time for players deep on the bench.

— Reported by Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times (Blog)