The Bee Sports staff tracks the Warriors’ progress toward breaking the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record 72 wins, using a measuring stick from the past to gauge the present. Here’s where the teams stood after 82 games:
Warriors
April 13, 2016: Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors took their last shot at Michael Jordan and history and they swished it – for 73.
Down to their final chance at the record, the Warriors became the first 73-win team Wednesday night by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, breaking what many considered an unmatchable mark set 20 years ago by Jordan’s Chicago Bulls – oh, and Golden State coach Steve Kerr, too.
Golden State saved one last record for the closing day of the regular season, and did it for a roaring, sellout home crowd at Oracle Arena. Yet these Warriors want nothing more than to build off their remarkable run so far and ride it to another title.
Draymond Green had 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as defending champion Golden State (73-9) topped the Jordan-led 1995-96 Bulls who went 72-10.
Player of the game: Curry achieved yet one more shooting milestone, becoming the first player to make 400 three-pointers in a season by knocking down 10 from long range on the way to 46 points and 402 total 3s.
Quote: “Now let’s go get this championship.” – Green to the crowd after the game
Warriors’ final record: 73-9
Bulls
April 21, 1996: Michael Jordan scored 26 points and Chicago wrapped up the most successful regular season in NBA history with a 103-93 victory over the Washington Bullets.
The Bulls completed the regular season with a record 72 victories, including seven straight.
Related stories from Sacramento Bee
Scottie Pippen scored 20 points and Toni Kukoc added 15 for the Bulls, who got 11 rebounds from Dennis Rodman.
Player of the game: Jordan, who shot 11 of 22 from the field, also contributed four assists, four rebounds and four steals.
Bulls’ final record: 72-10
The Associated Press
Comments