Thompson sizzles as NBA reserve to spark Warriors over Jazz

Klay Thompson came off the bench for the first time in 12 years and scored a season-high 35 points on Thursday to lead Golden State over Utah 140-137. The 34-year-old American guard, who has helped the Warriors capture four NBA titles, also reached the NBA career 15,000-point milestone as Golden State (27-26) won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Thompson, who had not been a Golden State reserve since March 2012 as an NBA rookie, was himself replaced as a starter by a rookie, Brandin Podziemski, who scored 13 points. Thompson hit 13-of-22 shots from the floor, 7-of-13 from 3-point range, and made the adjustment well according to Kerr.

Draymond Green added 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting while Golden State sharpshooter Stephen Curry had only 16 points, going 4-of-14 and just 2-of-8 beyond the arc after hitting at least seven 3-pointers in each of his past four games. Utah's Keyonte George, however, went 9-of-16 from 3-point range, tying the NBA rookie record for most 3-pointers in a game. Collin Sexton led Utah with 35 points while George added 33. A John Collins dunk lifted Utah within 138-137 with 41 seconds remaining, but Curry sank two free throws with 2.1 seconds to play and Sexton missed a tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

At Portland, Minnesota's Anthony Edwards scored 34 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 23 to lead the Timberwolves over the host Trail Blazers 128-91 -- extending Portland's losing streak to six games. The T-Wolves opened a 44-14 lead after the first quarter, hitting 68% of their shots, and cruised to victory, improving the NBA's second-best record to 39-16, boosting their Western Conference lead over Oklahoma City to 1.5 games.

Ziaire Williams scored a career-high 27 points and 19-year-old rookie G.G. Jackson added 27 off the bench to spark the Memphis Grizzlies over visiting Milwaukee 113-110. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points on 15-of-17 shooting and added 12 assists while Damian Lillard added 24 points for the Bucks. The Grizzlies connected on 76% of their shots in the third quarter, outscoring the Bucks 37-28 to seize a 94-85 lead, but missed nine of their first 10 in the fourth quarter while the Bucks went on a 12-2 run for a 100-98 lead. Memphis, however, answered with a 15-4 run for a 113-104 lead in the dying seconds.

Milwaukee's Malik Beasley sank back-to-back 3-pointers to pull within 113-110 with 29 seconds remaining. But after Memphis was whistled for an offensive foul, Grizzlies defenders forced Lillard into a desperate half-court final shot that missed at the buzzer. The Bucks, 35-21 but only 3-7 under new coach Rivers, reportedly will sign veteran Italian free agent Danilo Gallinari, a 35-year-old forward in his 14th NBA season.

© Agence France-Presse