Warriors clinch playoff spot in win over Jazz

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors are headed back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Klay Thompson scored 36 points and fueled a fourth quarter comeback to help Golden State beat the Utah Jazz 111-107. The Warriors rallied back from a 21-point deficit to stun the Jazz who were desperate for a win.

“Amazing. What a performance,” Steve Kerr said. “An unbelievable performance down the stretch from our guys.”

The Warriors went on a 18-0 run late in the fourth, Thompson hit eight 3s for the night. He went 8-for-17 from the arc and grabbed 5 rebounds. Thompson’s shots didn’t find the basket early. Golden State was down by 21 in the first period and down by 16 points in the second period. Thompson had no choice to continue to shoot the ball and eventually his shots started to fall.

“He’s so explosive. We’re never gonna tell him stop shooting,” said Jordan Poole. 

“I will get to the level I want to be again,” Thompson said. “I’m not there yet, but it’s in sight.”

The Jazz started the fourth going on a 12-2 run yet the Warriors kept fighting back. Poole was also “hot” on offense and finished with 31 points, 6 rebounds and went 6-for-15 from the arc. Both Thompson and Poole scored 12 points each in the fourth quarter and both combined for 67 points.

The win tonight punched Golden State’s ticket in the playoffs for the first time in two years. The Warriors also win the series over the Jazz and now hold the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings. They have a one-game lead over the Dallas Mavericks who clinched last week. Utah is now three games behind the Warriors.    

Despite a great game from both Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley, they both scored 26 points each. The Jazz was held scoreless in the final five minutes of the game. Golden State’s defense improved immensely in the fourth quarter. Draymond Green’s 10 points and 9 rebounds helped stifle a soaring Utah offense late in the fourth.

“I just saw incredible passion and competition from Draymond,” explained Kerr. “The main thing with Draymond is he’s just a winner.”

With 12 points in the first half, Klay Thompson passed Jeff Mullins (12,547 career points) for seventh place on the Warriors all-time scoring list with 15,549 career points.

Notes 

“Congrats to Tim Hardaway, amazing news! On to the Hall of Fame where everybody (Warriors organization) down there is thrilled for Timmy,” said Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr.

WARRIORS LEGEND TIM HARDAWAY ELECTED INTO NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

Former Head Coach George Karl Also Elected As Part of Class of 2022

SAN FRANCISCO The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that Golden State Warriors Legend Tim Hardaway has been elected as part of the 13-member Class of 2022. George Karl, who spent two seasons as head coach of the Warriors (1986-88), was also elected as part of the class of 2022

Hardaway, originally selected by the Warriors with the 14th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, enjoyed a 13-year NBA playing career that saw him named to five NBA All-Star teams and earn five All-NBA accolades. Hardaway spent his first six seasons with the Warriors and was a member of the “Run TMC” trio that included Hall of Famers Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. Hardaway averaged 19.8 points, 9.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.95 steals in 37.0 minutes in 422 career games (387 starts) with the Warriors and is the club’s all-time leader in assists per game (9.3). Overall, the guard averaged 17.7 points, 8.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.65 steals and 35.3 minutes in 867 career games (770 starts) with the Warriors, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers.

Karl spent 27 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers, Warriors, Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. He concluded his career with a record of 1,175-824 (.588) and is just one of 10 coaches in NBA history with over 1,000 career coaching victories. Karl help guide the Warriors to the playoffs during the 1986-87 season and was named the NBA’s Western Conference Coach of the Month for March.

The Golden State Warriors, currently commemorating their 75th season and a charter member of the National Basketball Association, will now have 31 members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2022 also includes: Manu Ginobili, Bob Huggins, Hugh Evans, Lindsay Whalen, Swin Cash, Marianne Stanley, Lou Hudson, Larry Costello, Del Harris, Theresa Shank-Grentz and Radivoj Korac. They will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., on September 9-10, 2022.

Photo by Warriors/Twitter

Malaika Bobino

Malaika Bobino, an Oakland, California native, is a Bay Area sports journalism powerhouse and influencer. With nearly two decades of experience at both the Oakland Post and the Huffington Post, she is always on the front lines of the iconic Bay Area sports scene. Bobino covered the Oakland A’s postseason trips, all three of the San Francisco Giants World Series, was present for all three Golden State Warriors three NBA Championships and covered the 49ers last two Super Bowl appearances

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