SAN FRANCISCO: Stephen Curry scored 36 points, Kevon Looney matched his career high with 20 rebounds and the Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 114-97 on Thursday night to cut their series deficit to 2-1.
As suspended star Draymond Green watched from home, the defending champions dominated without him as they have done so many times before. The fiery forward was suspended without pay for stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis in the fourth quarter Monday night in Game 2. The Warriors also were without key defensive stopper Gary Payton II after the guard became ill Wednesday.
Curry shot 12 for 25 with six 3s while Andrew Wiggins added 20 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors, who never trailed and will now try to even the best-of-seven series in Game 4 on Sunday back on their home court at Chase Center.
Looney also had nine assists.
De’Aaron Fox had 26 points for the Kings.
76ERS 102 NETS 97
In New York, Joel Embiid, limping throughout and perhaps lucky not to have been ejected for kicking player in the groin area, blocked a potential tying basket with 8.8 seconds left and Philadelphia beat Brooklyn for a 3-0 series lead.
Tyrese Maxey made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 44 seconds left. The 76ers can sweep their way into the second round with a victory Saturday in Brooklyn.
With James Harden having been ejected in the third quarter for another groin shot and Embiid not looking like his usual dominant self, Maxey took over the offense. He scored 25 points, Harden had 21 and Embiid added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Nets fans loudly booed the decision not to eject Embiid for kicking his leg up toward Nic Claxton’s groin in the first quarter, after the Nets center stepped over him after he dunked and Embiid fouled him and fell to the court.
Mikal Bridges scored 26 points for the Nets.
SUNS 129 CLIPPERS 124
In Los Angeles, Devin Booker scored 45 points, Kevin Durant added 26 and Phoenix beat Kawhi Leonard-less Los Angeles to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference playoff series.
Leonard sat out because of a sprained right knee, the same injury that has sidelined fellow star Paul George since March 21. Leonard was hurt in Game 1, and played through it in Game 2, but afterward his condition didn’t improve.
Booker shot 18 for 29 and had seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks while playing a game-high 44 minutes. He scored 38 points in Game 2. Norman Powell led the Clippers, scoring a career playoff-high 40 points on 14-of-22 shooting. Russell Westbrook added 30 points and 11 assists.
Game 4 is Saturday in Los Angeles.