Andrew Bogut and the Golden State Warriors have set a piece of NBA history that may never be broken. The Warriors broke the NBA record for regular season wins on Wednesday night by beating Memphis Grizzlies and finishing with a 73-9 regular season record which passed Michael Jordan’s 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls’ 72-9 record. Bogut’s team is only the second to pass 70 wins since the NBA schedule went to 82 games in the mid-1960s and one of only 19 teams to pass 65 wins.
However, there is no room for celebrating history when the business end of the NBA season arrives.
“We didn’t have much time to reflect on what we have done because we have a Houston team coming in here for an early-start game tomorrow, which is 12.30pm, and then the silly season begins again,” Bogut said on Saturday.
“They don’t leave you any time to reflect on what you have done until the last game and hopefully we are there in late June and have a chance to win another championship – then we can have a few beers as a team and reflect on it all.”
The defending NBA champions will begin the playoffs on Saturday against the Houston Rockets in Oakland.
Bogut tells it how it is
Photo: New York Post
The Brooklyn Nets abysmal season ended on a ten-game losing streak. They haven’t won since March 26th against Indiana. After a two game absence, Bojan Bogdanovic returned against Washington. The second year guard struggled in a 121-103 loss. Bojan shot two of twelve from the field, along with failing to get to the free throw line. The game was over by the third quarter, which led to Bogdanovic playing only 21 minutes.
As the one-sided losses continued, Bogdanovic’s play suffered drastically. Bojan shot two for twelve again against Charlotte in a 113-99 defeat. With his jump shot not falling, the upstart guard played only 21 minutes again. Markel Brown and Sean Kilpatrick have started to play more in relief of Bojan. The awful shooting stretch went into Indiana, as Bogdanovic shot two of fifteen from the field. It was another terrible performance in a 129-105 loss.
The week ended on a slight high note against Washington. Despite losing 120-111, Bogdanovic scored 20 points on eight of thirteen shooting. The sharp shooter regained his stroke by converting three out of six attempts from three-point range. Brooklyn nearly won, despite losing 20-0 to start the game. It was another one of those games that made fans realize how the Nets are going to be rebuilding for years to come. Bojan finished the season on a high note against Toronto. In a 103-96 loss, the Croatian winger scored 29 points, including seven three pointers. It was an exclamation point to a much improved season. Bogdanovic has been one of the few bright spots in a dark season for Brooklyn.
Photo: USA Today
Orlando’s inconsistent season will end on a series of wins and losses. The franchise has made strides, but will be disappointed by their collapse in February and March. Mario Hezonja continues to make his mark off the bench. In a 108-104 loss to Detroit, the first round pick contributed with six points, three assists, and three rebounds in 20 minutes of action. It was the type of solid all-around performance that Hezonja has started to put together more consistently.
Mario played well against Miami in a 112-109 victory. The rookie guard filled up the stat sheet again by contributing with nine points, four rebounds, and three assists in 23 minutes. They didn’t fair well in the rematch. Hezonja started for Victor Oladipo in a 118-96 loss. Mario managed to play 32 minutes, while scoring ten points on four of eight shooting. Orlando was soundly outplayed by one of the Eastern conference’s better teams. Despite the blowout loss, Hezonja didn’t back down from the likes of Dwayne Wade and Joe Johnson.
Hezonja finished the week with a memorable performance. In a 107-98 victory over Milwaukee, Mario exploded for nineteen points, seven assists, five steals, and three rebounds. Scott Skiles played him for 39 minutes, which is very promising. It was the most complete performance of his rookie season. Fans saw a glimpse of Hezonja’s potential and his overall play-making ability. At 35-47, Orlando’s record has improved over the past three seasons. The season ended with a 117-103 loss to Charlotte. Mario played a career-high 42 minutes, although struggled from the field. It was slightly disappointing to see the promising rookie shoot only three of eleven after an excellent week. Despite the constant issues with playing time, this was a productive rookie season, given the circumstances. Hezonja has already stated that he will looking to put on muscle this off-season.
Photo: NBA
Damjan Rudež played in what will most likely be his final game in a Minnesota Timberwolves shirt in a 144-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the season finale for both teams on Wednesday. The Croatian international picked up two rebounds with goose eggs across the board in nine minutes of action. Damjan has a $1.2 million team option for next season.
Photo: Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings undrafted rookie, Duje Dukan made his NBA debut for the Sacramento Kings in a 116-81 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday. The former Wisconsin Badger scored six points (2-10 FG, 2-5 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist, and one steal in what was a meaningless game for the Sacramento Kings.
Dukan averaged 14.6 points (40.3 FG, 37.4 3Pt, 72.2 FT), 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 threes, and 1.2 assists in 27 games with the D-League’s Reno Bighorns this season before Wednesday’s game in Sacramento. Duje’s contract is non-guaranteed in 2016-17, so he will have to work hard to land a spot on the Kings next season.
Duje’s first bucket in his NBA career! pic.twitter.com/CFo38lGoDU
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) April 14, 2016
~Allen Strk reporting from New York and Denis Svirčić reporting from sunny Southern California
