Down to their final chance at the record, the Warriors became the first 73-win team Wednesday night by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125- 104, breaking what many considered an unmatchable mark set 20 years ago by Jordan’s Chicago Bulls — oh, and Golden State coach Steve Kerr, too.
Lakers 101, Jazz 96
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant went out with a Hollywood ending to his remarkable career.
He scored 60 points in his final game, wrapping up 20 years in the NBA with an unbelievable offensive showcase in Los Angeles’ victory over Utah.
Bryant scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, posting his first 50-point game since February 2009 and rallying the Lakers from a 15-point deficit to win the final game of the worst season in franchise history.
With the entire Staples Center crowd standing, Bryant made a 3-pointer with 59 seconds left. He hit another with 31 seconds to play, putting the Lakers ahead 97-96. He finished with an assist before checking out for good with 4.1 seconds left in just the 17th win of the worst season in franchise history.
Rockets 116, Kings 81
HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden scored 38 points and Houston took the final Western Conference playoff spot with an easy victory over Sacramento.
The Rockets never trailed and had a 64-44 lead at halftime behind 16 points from Harden and 10 each from Dwight Howard and Michael Beasley.
They won their last three games to sneak into the playoffs after losing three of the previous four to fall behind Utah and into ninth place in the West. Houston will meet top-seed Golden State in the first round of the playoffs this weekend.
Spurs 96, Mavericks 91
DALLAS (AP) — Rookies Boban Marjanovic and Jonathon Simmons set career scoring highs and San Antonio rallied past Dallas despite leaving home four starters and two key reserves.
Marjanovic, a 7-foot-3 Serbian center making his fourth start, had 22 points and matched a career high with 12 rebounds as the Spurs erased an 18-point halftime deficit in the third quarter and finished off the rally in the fourth. Simmons scored 19.
Pistons 112, Cavaliers 110
CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James wore a black blazer and watched from the bench and all the starters for Cleveland and Detroit rested for their first-round playoff matchup as Jodie Meeks scored 20 to lead the Pistons past the Cavaliers.
Raptors 103, Nets 96
NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Norman Powell scored a career-high 30 points and Toronto wrapped up the best regular season in franchise history by beating Brooklyn.
Wizards 109, Hawks 98
WASHINGTON (AP) — With a seemingly half-hearted showing in its final regular season game, Atlanta lost to a bunch of backups for Washington and wound up with the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Magic 117, Hornets 103
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Al Jefferson scored 26 points and playoff-bound Charlotte closed out its best regular season in 16 years with a victory over Orlando.
Pacers 97, Bucks 92
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Solomon Hill scored a season high 25 points to help Indiana beat Milwaukee.
Lavoy Allen and Glenn Robinson III each added 14 points for Indiana, which clinched the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night after beating the New York Knicks.
Bulls 115, 76ers 105
CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Mirotic scored 32 points, Justin Holliday added a career-high 29, and Chicago closed a disappointing season with a victory over Philadelphia.
Mirotic hit seven 3-pointers. Holiday made five from long range, matching a personal best. Jimmy Butler added 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
T-Wolves 144, Pelicans 109
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 14 rebounds and Minnesota sent coach Sam Mitchell out in style with a victory over New Orleans.
Suns 114, Clippers 105
PHOENIX (AP) — Mirza Teletovic scored 22 points to lead Phoenix and the Suns finished their second-worst season in franchise history with a victory over a Los Angeles team made up almost entirely of Clippers bench players.
T-Blazers 107, Nuggets 99
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard had 21 points before sitting in the final quarter and Portland , with its playoff fate sealed earlier Wednesday night, beat Denver.
CJ McCollum added 17 points for the Blazers, who led by as many as 18 points in the final quarter despite putting all of their starters on the bench.
Emmanuel Mudiay had 25 points for the Nuggets.
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