LOS ANGELES — The Golden State Warriors kept their bid for an historic 73 NBA regular-season victories in 2015-16 alive Saturday with a dramatic 100-99 triumph over the Grizzlies in Memphis.
The reigning NBA champion Warriors trailed the injury-depleted Grizzlies, who had lost 11 of their last 14 games, by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter.
But Golden State turned up the heat to improve to 71-9. They are just the second team in NBA history to notch 70 wins in a regular season, along with the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
They must win their last two games of the season to surpass that Michael Jordan-led Bulls’ team’s record 72 triumphs.
They face a big hurdle in their penultimate game Sunday, when they visit the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs are a perfect 39-0 on their home floor and trying to become the first team to go unbeaten at home in a single season.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr — who played on that 1995-96 Bulls team — said the record isn’t his foremost concern.
“I just want to be fresh and ready for the playoffs,” Kerr said.
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson struggled from long range going a combined 5 for 24, but Draymond Green rescued Golden State with 23 points, including the game-winning tip-in with a minute to go. He also had 11 rebounds.
Hawks 118, Celtics 107: Paul Millsap scored 31 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and sparked a furious second-half as Atlanta rallied to beat Boston in the regular-season home finale at Philips Arena.
With two games remaining, the Hawks (48-32) have a one-game lead on the Celtics (47-33) for the third seed and 1-1/2-game lead over the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets. Atlanta finishes the regular season on the road, starting Monday at Cleveland and concluding Wednesday in Washington.
Boston, which got 19 points off the bench from Marcus Smart, wraps up the regular season at home against Charlotte on Monday and Miami on Wednesday.
Atlanta won three of four against the Celtics and own the tiebreaker should the teams finish with the same record.
Bulls 105, Cavaliers 102: Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Cristiano Felicio had 16 off the bench as Chicago staved off playoff elimination with a victory over Cleveland.
Nikola Mirotic scored 13 points and Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose each finished with 10 for the Bulls (40-40), who would have been eliminated from playoff contention with a loss.
Chicago needs to win its remaining two games and have Indiana lose all three of its remaining games to clinch a postseason berth.
LeBron James scored 33 points and J.R. Smith finished with 24 for the Cavaliers (57-23), who entered the night in need of a victory to clinch the best record in the Eastern Conference for the third time in franchise history.
Suns 121, Pelicans 100: Archie Goodwin had 24 points and Mirza Teletovic scored nine of his 22 in the third quarter to lift Phoenix over New Orleans.
Kings 114, Thunder 112: Rudy Gay made two free throws with one second remaining, capping a 22-point night and adding his name to Sleep Train Arena lore as the Sacramento Kings bid farewell to their home with a 114-112 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Timberwolves 106, Trail Blazers 105: Karl-Anthony Towns’ jump hook with 1.8 seconds left propelled the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 106-105 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. — Agencies
