Dub Hub, Daily Warriors Links for 4/10/23: Splash Brothers ready for a ‘fun’ first round matchup vs. the Kings

Good Morning Dub Nation,

The Golden State Warriors saved their best performance for last with a dominating 157-101 blowout victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Klay Thompson’s five threes in the first five minutes of the game set the tone early as the Warriors finished the first quarter with 55 points — the most first quarter points scored in NBA history. From that point on, Golden State kept rolling and never looked back as they closed the regular season with an emphatic bang.

The 56-point win was easily the team’s largest margin of victory this season and — shortly after the game — the Los Angeles Clippers won their matchup, officially giving the sixth seed to the Warriors. With this, Golden State successfully avoids the play-in game and gets a first round matchup with the Sacramento Kings — an opponent the Warriors say they are excited and ready to play against this upcoming Saturday.

Similar to last season’s championship run, the Warriors end this regular season on a high note by winning eight of their last ten games. They are as healthy as they’ve been all season and are expecting Andrew Wiggins to join the team at some point this postseason. The Warriors are getting hot at just the right time which bodes well for their championship aspirations, despite what has been one roller coaster of a regular season.

Here are the rest of today’s stories:

In case you missed it from Golden State of Mind:

• Draymond Green trolls Rudy Gobert after punch
• Player grades: Warriors vs. Blazers
• Warriors ride record-setting quarter to 157-101 win in season finale
• A pressure point the Warriors must target in a potential playoff series against the Kings
• Player grades: Warriors vs. Kings

Other Warriors News:

• NBA playoff picture: Warriors, Clippers secure West’s final spots, send Lakers to play-in (Yahoo Sports)
• Thompson: It’s Warriors-Kings — and everything that comes with it — in the first round (The Athletic)
• Warriors score NBA first-quarter-record 55 points vs. Trail Blazers (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Draymond Green Shades Rudy Gobert on Twitter for Punching Kyle Anderson (Bleacher Report)
• Klay Thompson: Don’t see anyone beating Warriors ‘when healthy’ (ESPN)

NBA News:

• 2023 NBA Playoffs Schedule (NBA)
• Rudy Gobert swings at Kyle Anderson; Jaden McDaniels fractures hand, sources say (ESPN)
• Sources: Stephen Silas won’t return as Rockets coach (ESPN)
• Why Dwane Casey is moving to Detroit Pistons front office after 5 years as head coach (Detroit Free Press)
• Mavericks were clumsy, but their tank job Friday hardly warrants an NBA investigation (The Athletic)