The Golden State Warriors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 119-107 on Tuesday at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, United States, to escape their third straight loss.
The Warriors were without their second-most valuable 3-point shooter, Klay Thompson, due to illness throughout the game, but they benefited from the misfortune. Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s leading forwards, stepped up to take on additional offensive responsibilities. Wiggins scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and assisted three times on an 8-for-10 shooting night. Meanwhile, Kuminga scored 26 points on 11 of 19 field goal tries, extending his record of 20 or more points to seven games.
On Tuesday night, both Wiggins and Kuminga recorded three assists. Though the 76ers led 14-6 in thefts, the two teams were even at 16 turnovers, with the Warriors scoring more points on the fast break (17-6).
Stephen Curry’s teammates’ strong performances allowed him to have one of his easiest games in recent memory. He made 12 of his 17 free throws, including eight from beyond the three-point line, for a game-high 37 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. It was the 246th time in his career that he made at least five three-pointers and had at least five assists in one game. Curry is the clear NBA all-time leader in this category. James Harden comes in second with 164 games.
Such a win meant a lot to the Warriors, who had lost their previous two games by a single point. In contrast, the 76ers lost their fourth game in a row, falling to fifth place in the Eastern Conference. They were also without many key players for Tuesday’s game, including Tyrese Maxey, Nicolas Batum, and De’Anthony Melton. That is why Joel Embiid had to play despite potential ankle and knee problems.
Embiid was definitely not in top form. He finished the majority of his attacks beyond the paint and missed 13 of his 17 jump shots, totaling 14 points, seven rebounds, and eight turnovers. He found himself in an unpleasant situation because none of his teammates could pass the ball to him in his sweet places. On Tuesday night, Embiid was the most effective playmaker in the Sixers’ rotation. However, despite his improved court vision and passing abilities, he was still unable to run the offense like an orchestrator.
Embiid’s injury crushed the 76ers’ hearts even more than his poor performance. He and Kuminga were battling for a loose ball with approximately four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Kuminga landed on Embiid’s left knee. He appeared to be in a lot of agony and left the game, never returning for the rest of the contest.
Coach Nick Nurse should also be held accountable for Friday’s loss, as he made some very unclear arrangements. For example, he had Danuel House guard Curry, but House was neither fast enough to follow Curry nor adept at breaking through screens. Nurse also had his men double-team Green on multiple occasions when he had the ball in the low post. Green has been attacking more aggressively since returning from suspension, but it still makes little logic to trap a guy who averages 9.3 points each game.
Los Angeles Lakers 122-138 The Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks vs Los Angeles Lakers at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., January 30, 2024. /CFP
The Lakers were down their defensive spine, Anthony Davis in the game, which explains why their interior defense was so terrible that the Hawks were able to get 12 offensive rebounds and 68 points in the paint at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Despite scoring 66 points in the paint, the purple and gold were outscored 16-12 by their opponents from downtown.
In Tuesday’s game, D’Angelo Russell shot 3-for-11 from the field, finishing with nine points and five assists. Because of his role in the recent trade rumors involving the Hawks’ All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, home supporters screamed “We don’t want you!” whenever he shot a free throw. Murray and Trae Young combined for 50 points and 22 assists during the contest.
The Utah Jazz 103-118 The New York Knicks
New York Knicks vs Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden in New York City, U.S., January 30, 2024. /CFP
After defeating the Jazz at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday, the Knicks extended their winning streak to eight games, the league’s longest. Donte DiVincenzo was on fire behind the arc, sinking nine triples out of 15 tries and scoring 33 points for the Knicks. He also had four thefts.
Josh Hart of the Knicks also achieved a career milestone in the game, recording his first triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, as well as two steals and two blocks.
The Indiana Pacers 124-129 The Boston Celtics
The Toronto Raptors 118-107 The Chicago Bulls
