The Warriors crushed the Trail Blazers, 157–101, in the 2022–23 NBA regular-season finale Sunday.
Not only did Golden State clinch the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, the team broke an NBA record in the first quarter.
The Warriors came out in the first 12 minutes and scored a total of 55 points, breaking the previous NBA record of 51 points in a first quarter. The record previously was held by the Hornets (over the Bucks earlier this season) and the Warriors (over the Nuggets in 2019).
Klay Thompson scored 17 of his 20 points in the first quarter. Stephen Curry didn’t score his first basket until almost halfway through the opening quarter, when the Warriors were already up 23–16. Curry totaled eight points in the first quarter and 26 points in the game. Jordan Poole helped out by making four three-pointers in the opening frame.
After making five three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game, Thompson became the leading three-point shooter of the NBA season with 301. He’s just the third player to make at least 300 three-pointers in a single season, too, joining Curry and James Harden on the list.
“It’s cool to lead the league in 3s made,” Thompson said after the game. “It’s something I’ve never done before. It’s a testament to my hard work over the last few years, some dark times that have turned into some beautiful moments.”
The Warriors enjoyed a 56-point victory despite limiting their star’s minutes. No starter played more than 22 minutes in the game. Portland played without superstar guard Damian Lillard.
The Warriors will face the No. 3-seed Kings in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.
