The Golden State Warriors kept their historic NBA run alive and put an end to another.
Reigning league MVP Stephen Curry scored 26 of his 37 points in the second half and the Warriors snapped a 33-game slide at San Antonio, with a 92-86 victory over the Spurs on
Sunday.
The Warriors’ first victory at the AT&T Centre since February 14, 1997 was their 72nd of the season, tying the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ NBA record for most in a regular season.
It also snapped the Spurs’ home victory streak at 48, with an NBA-record 39 to start this season.
“They have a lot of energy here and usually don’t beat themselves or give games away,” Curry said. “So you have to come in and really take it. That’s what we did tonight.”
The defending champs (72-9) look to break the Bulls’ mark at home Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies in the regular-season finale and become the winning-est team in league history.
“We’re enjoying the ride and have one last game in front of our home crowd to do something that’s never been done before in the history of the game. That’s pretty amazing. We put ourselves in this position so why not? Hopefully, we can finish that off.”
Said teammate Draymond Green: “Seventy two and nine sounds good, but 73-9 sounds better.”
Klay Thompson netted 14 points while Green finished with 11 for the Warriors, who broke the game open by holding the Spurs to 37.8-per-cent shooting in the second half.
“This is amazing to come in here and get a win in a place where we haven’t won in about 20 years,” Green said.
“And the way we had to win it. It was a gritty game.”  
In a battle between the NBA’s best, the teams were dead-locked at 35 each at halftime.
The Warriors fell behind by eight early in the third quarter before Curry heated up. The league’s top scorer put up 16 points and Golden State carried a 62-61 edge into the final 12 minutes.
Clinging to a 70-69 lead with 8:41 remaining, the Warriors went on a 14-3 run, opening up an 84-73 cushion with 4:25 left.
Golden State stayed comfortably ahead, therafter, and never allowed the lead to dip below four until the final 20 seconds.
“I know we had a chance to be a good team but not one of the best ever,” Thompson said. “It’s surreal.”
LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and Kawhi Leonard added 20 for the Spurs (65-15), who dropped their third in a row.
Elsewhere:
Indiana Pacers 129, Brooklyn Nets 105: Myles Turner had 28 points with 10 rebounds, and the host Pacers (43-27) clinched a playoff spot in the East after bashing the Nets (21-59). The victory eliminated Chicago from post-season play.
•Utah Jazz 100, Denver Nuggets 84: Trey Lyles scored a career-high 22 points, Gordon Hayward had seven of his 22 to spark a 24-0 period-ending third-quarter run and the visiting Jazz (40-40) rocked the Nuggets. Utah remains one game ahead of Houston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
•Houston Rockets 130, LA Lakers 110: James Harden scored half of his 40 points in the final quarter to go along with 13 assists, and the Rockets (39-41) kept their playoff hopes alive after beating the visiting Lakers. Kobe Bryant, who is set to retire on Wednesday after 20 NBA seasons, led the Lakers (16-64) with 35 points.
•Miami Heat 118, Orlando Magic 96: Luol Deng scored 20 points, Hassan Whiteside added 18 with 15 rebounds, and the playoff-bound Heat (47-33) beat the visiting Magic (34-46).
•Washington Wizards 113, Charlotte Hornets 98: Marcin Gortat had 21 points with 13 rebounds, and the Wizards (39-41) topped the visiting Hornets. Charlotte (46-34) dropped a half game behind Boston for the East fourth seed and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
•LA Clippers 98, Dallas Mavericks 91: Jamal Crawford scored 22 points, while Blake Griffin had 17 with 11 rebounds and the playoff-bound Clippers (52-28) snapped the visiting Mavericks’ six-game success with their fifth straight win. Raymond Felton tallied 21 points for the Mavs (41-39), who remain in the seventh slot in the West playoff scramble.
•Toronto Raptors 93, New York Knicks 89: DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, including a tie-break three-point play with 65 seconds left and playoff-bound Raptors (54-26) edged the host Knicks (32-49)
•Milwaukee Bucks 109, Philadelphia 76ers 108 (OT): Khris Middleton scored 36 points, leading the visiting Bucks (33-47) over the league-worst 76ers. Ish Smith had 22 points for the Sixers (10-70), who officially hired Bryan Colangelo as president and general manager after Sam Hinke stepped down.