Stephen Curry scored 22 points to go with eight assists, Andrew Bogut broke out with the best performance of his injury-saddled season and the Warriors eliminated the Nuggets with a 92-88 victory in Game 6 last night in Oakland.
Bogut had season-bests and career-playoff highs of 14 points and 21 rebounds, and rookie Draymond Green added a career-high 16 points and 10 rebounds to power Golden State into the second round for the first time in six years.
The Warriors went ahead by 18 points early in the fourth before holding off one final Nuggets flurry. Andre Iguodala scored 24 points in another disappointed early exit for Denver, which has lost in the first round nine of the past 10 seasons.
Before the game, Warriors coach Mark Jackson was fined $25,000 by the NBA for making public comments in an attempt to influence the officiating.
* Rockets star James Harden was diagnosed with strep throat but is still expected to play tonight in Game 6 against the Thunder.
Harden had what the team called flu-like symptoms on Wednesday when he scored 31 points in a 107-100 win in Game 5. The Thunder leads the series 3-2.
* Phil Jackson has agreed to help the Pistons search for a coach. Lawrence Frank was fired after a 29-53 season and 54-94 mark in his two seasons. Jackson left the Lakers in 2011.
* Flip Saunders signed a long-term deal to become the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations and also will hold a minority ownership stake in the team.
Saunders, who replaces David Kahn, coached the Timberwolves from 1995-2006. Rick Adelman is expected to remain as coach.
* The South Florida home of Heat forward Udonis Haslem was burglarized on April 13, though authorities said it’s not clear if anything was taken.
According to police, the thieves left hurriedly after a home alarm sounded. Thieves also struck the home of Haslem’s teammate, Chris Bosh, in early April, making off with $340,000 in jewelry and other items.