By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Curry sets 3s mark; Warriors beat Blazers
Placeholder Image

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Stephen Curry set a NBA single-season record for 3-pointers with 272 and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 99-88 on Wednesday in the season finale for both teams.

It was the 13th straight loss for the Blazers, equaling the franchise record set in the 1971-72 season.

Curry surpassed Ray Allen’s single-season 3-point total of 269 set in 2005-06. Needing two for the record, Curry opened the game with two straight misses from beyond the arc, but hit his first midway through the first quarter before making the record-breaker with 6:49 to go in the second.

His backcourt teammate Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 24 points. Golden State (47-35) had to wait for the game between the Lakers and Rockets to finish before learning their first-round opponent in the playoffs.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 30 points and a season-high 21 rebounds for Portland (33-49), which lost its eighth straight at home.

Golden State led by as many as 16 points in the first half but the Blazers closed the gap to 66-60 late in the third quarter on rookie Damian Lillard’s layup. Sasha Pavlovic followed with a 3-pointer to pull Portland within 3.

Meyers Leonard hit a jumper to get the Blazers within 76-73 with 7:356 left in the game, but Thompson answered for the Warriors with a 3 and Portland couldn’t get any closer.

Curry hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 5:56 to go, putting Golden State up 91-77. He finished with 15 points.

The Warriors saw the return of center Andrew Bogut, who missed two games because of a bone bruise on his left ankle. Bogut has missed 42 games this season because of the ankle, which he had microfracture surgery on last April.  Bogut finished with two points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes.

Portland was without starting forward Nicolas Batum, who missed the team’s final eight games with a right shoulder injury, and shooting guard Wesley Matthews, who missed the last five games with a sprained right ankle.

The Warriors led by as many as eight points early, but the Blazers kept it close and pulled within 26-24 on Aldridge’s jumper. Golden State answered with an 18-5 run to go up 44-29 on Thompson’s 3-pointer.

The Warriors took a 50-36 lead into the half.

David Lee had 20 points and 10 rebounds for his league-leading 56th double-double, becoming the first Warrior to finish atop the league since Wilt Chamberlain had a double-double in all 80 games in the 1963-64 season.

Lillard finished with 21 points for the Blazers.

Notes: Blazers owner Paul Allen presented Damian Lillard his Rookie of the Month award for March. Lillard has won all five of the rookie awards this season. ... Allen met with reporters before the game on Wednesday night to assess the season. “It’s painful to be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs,” Allen acknowledged, but noted that he is encouraged for the future by Portland’s young talent. ... Chuck Charnquist, the Blazers’ media room manager and team historian, worked his final game after 43 years with the team.