Kerr-ific record for Steve
Golden State coach the fastest to reach 250 wins in NBA history
Steve Kerr became the fastest coach to 250 wins in NBA history yesterday morning (Singapore time), getting the better of old pal Gregg Popovich in the Golden State Warriors' 122-105 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Oakland, California.
Zaza Pachulia scored 10 of his 12 points in a runaway third quarter on his birthday, helping the Warriors build a 16-point lead en route to their second straight win.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Kyle Anderson had 20 points apiece for the Spurs, who played without Kawhi Leonard (torn quad), Tony Parker (back tightness), Rudy Gay (bursitis in right heel) and Dejounte Murray (sprained left ankle).
The victory allowed Kerr to reach 250 career wins in just 302 games, 44 faster than Phil Jackson's previous record. Kerr has lost just 52 times in his career.
When asked what the record means, Kerr told ESPN: "It just means that I inherited a hell of a team. An amazing, talented group of players."
Popovich, his former coach, had 152 losses when he recorded his 250th win against, coincidentally, Golden State in 2002.
It just means that I inherited a hell of a team. An amazing, talented group of players.Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr on what the record means to him
Kerr, who won two championships as a Spurs player, increased his head-to-head advantage over Popovich to 7-5.
Popovich said the record doesn't mean anything. He told ESPN: "I don't care. And I can tell you that he doesn't care, either."
Klay Thompson made five of his six three-point shots to account for a majority of his game-high 25 points for the Warriors, who beat the Spurs for the second straight time this season.
The Western Conference rivals meet two more times in the next 15 days.
Stephen Curry scored 17 points, while Draymond Green had game-highs in rebounds (eight) and assists (11) to go with 17 points for the Warriors, who recorded the 2,700th win in franchise history.
Only the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks reached the milestone faster than the Warriors.
Pachulia, celebrating his 34th birthday, hit four of his five shots and all four of his free-throws while accumulating 12 points in just 15 minutes.
Manu Ginobili dropped in 13 points, while Derrick White pulled a team-high seven rebounds to complement 11 points for the Spurs, who were playing the second game on their annual "Rodeo Trip".
Popovich, the winningest active coach in the NBA, fell to 60-18 all-time against the Warriors.
The Spurs shot 62.5 per cent in a 37-point first quarter. They led by as many as 12 points before Green helped the Warriors turn the tables in the second period, scoring nine of his 19 points as Golden State went up 58-55 at half-time.
Meanwhile, Dallas Mavericks' 39-year-old Dirk Nowitzki turned back the clock by scoring a season-high 22 points on eight-of-11 shooting.
Dallas made key plays down the stretch as the Mavericks defeated the new-look Los Angeles Lakers 130-123 at the American Airlines Center. - REUTERS
OTHER RESULTS:
- Brooklyn 128 New Orleans 138
- Orlando 104 Milwaukee 111
- Philadelphia 112 LA Clippers 98
- Chicago 90 Washington 101
- Phoenix 113 Denver 123
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