The two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) helped the Warriors end a six-game losing streak on the road with a 125-120 victory at Frost Bank Center in Texas.

Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle became the first Spurs players to record triple-doubles in the same game, but Curry scored 29 points in the second half as the Warriors outscored the Spurs 76-64.

“That third quarter is what we do – getting stops, pushing, creating easy offence. Thankfully I was able to knock a couple down,” Curry said.

Jimmy Butler contributed 28 points and eight assists for the Warriors, while Moses Moody scored 19 points.

Thunder thrash Lakers

Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 30 points, five rebounds and nine assists as defending champions the Oklahoma City Thunder thrashed the Los Angeles Lakers 121-92.

The Thunder led by 37 points at one stage, allowing Gilgeous-Alexander and other starters to sit out the fourth quarter at Paycom Center.

Five-time All-Star pick Luka Doncic managed 19 points and seven assists for the Lakers, before being subbed when the result was all but confirmed by the final quarter.

Thunder are top of the Western Conference with a 12-1 record.

“We definitely got better the last two days and that’s the main goal,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.

Jokic downs Clippers

Nikola Jokic scored 55 points, including 25 in the first quarter, as the Denver Nuggets extended their winning run to six games with a 130-116 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers.

The three-time MVP also claimed 12 rebounds and six assists at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

It is the fourth time that Jokic has scored at least 50 points in a regular season game.

The 37-year-old came off before half-time in game one of the series after pulling up during the Warriors’ 99-88 win in Minneapolis.

The two-time MVP clutched the back of his left leg after a defensive play and initially tried to carry on before signalling to the bench that he needed to be replaced.

Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green shared the scoring burden in Curry’s absence, hitting 62 points between them.

Curry is likely to miss game two (Friday, 9 May, 01:30 BST) at least, as the Warriors wait on the results of the scan.

“We’re definitely game-planning for him to not be available for game two but we don’t know yet,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

“With a hamstring, it’s hard to imagine that he would play.

“I talked to him at half-time, he’s obviously crushed. The guys picked him up and played a great game but we’re all concerned about Steph.

“It’s part of the game. Guys get hurt, you move on.”

Haliburton puts Pacers two ahead

Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winning three-pointer as the Indiana Pacers shocked top seeds the Cleveland Cavaliers in game two of their second-round play-off.

The Pacers had been trailing throughout the match until a sensational fourth quarter, when they outscored the Cavaliers 36-21.

The Cavaliers, winners of the Eastern Conference, had a 20-point lead at one stage.

But, after a spirited fightback in the final minutes, Haliburton produced a stunning step-back three-pointer to give his side a 2-0 lead in the series.

Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner both top scored for the Pacers with 23 points each while Haliburton produced 20 of his own.

Game three is on 10 May (00:30 BST).

The Warriors led the best-of-seven series 3-1 before the Rockets pulled level at 3-3 going into the final game in Houston.

Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter while team-mate Buddy Hield sank nine three-pointers in his game-high haul of 33 as the pair helped the Warriors set up a Western Conference semi-final against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“A lot of resilience and everybody stepping up,” said Curry when asked what was needed to secure the win.

“Everybody’s been talking about our team the last two games in terms of our execution, our energy, all that.

“We blocked it all out and just understood we had 48 minutes to dig deep. Everybody contributed. Buddy Hield was unbelievable.”

Jimmy Butler, who joined the Warriors in a trade from Miami Heat in February, contributed 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

“For us to build chemistry on the fly and build trust on the fly and perform like we did in a game seven, it means the world,” added Curry.

“So, mission accomplished – step one.”

The Rockets were second in the Western Conference regular season compared to the Warriors’ seventh-place finish.

Houston’s defeat in the decider meant they failed to become the 14th team to come from 3-1 behind to win a NBA play-off series.

Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers won 121-112 at the Cleveland Cavaliers to take a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final play-off series.

Andrew Nembhard top scored for the Pacers with 23 points while team-mate Tyrese Haliburton added 22.

The Cavaliers, who finished top of the Eastern Conference, were beaten for the first time in this season’s play-offs following their 4-0 first-round play-off series victory against Miami.

“We’re definitely the heavy underdog, but we’re trying to control what we can,” said Haliburton. “It gives us a lot of momentum for sure, but this is the best team in our conference. They don’t lose much.”

Experienced point guard VanVleet starred for the Rockets, adding eight assists and eight rebounds to his points haul, while Alperen Sengun recorded a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

The Warriors held a commanding 3-1 lead in the series but have twice failed to close it out, losing to the Rockets in game five on Wednesday and again in game six on Friday.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said of VanVleet: “He’s had some really good stretches lately.

“He knows what it is. He’s been a champion. Been there, done that. So I wouldn’t expect anything less than that from him.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr added: “I thought we got some good looks against the zone but then, once they pulled away by 10 or 12, it was easier for them to run us off the line.”

The Rockets will host game seven on Sunday, with the winning team to face the Minnesota Timberwolves who clinched a 4-1 win against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The seventh-seeded Warriors made it successive wins in Houston, with Curry also adding six rebounds and three assists.

Jimmy Butler chipped in with a further 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists to hand Golden State a 1-0 series lead – with Game 2 scheduled for Thursday.

“Steph was incredible. He was incredible,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

“With that type of pressure on him from [Amen] Thompson and others, he just made some amazing plays and, obviously, carried us offensively along with Jimmy.”

The Rockets, seeded second in the play-offs, endured a disappointing end to the regular season with three successive defeats and have lost back-to-back games at home.

Ime Udoka’s side are featuring in the play-offs for the first time since 2019-20, when they lost against the Los Angeles Lakers in the semi-finals.

“I wouldn’t say the moment, I would say the physicality at times, going after guys, and just play-off basketball,” Udoka said when asked if a lack of experience cost his side.

“It’s not really about the moment. Going into the lane, trying to shoot over too many and not finding your outlets is a big thing and a big key for us all year.”

Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers sealed a 121-100 win against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-offs.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points with Ty Jerome adding 28 points and Darius Garland scoring 27.

Jerome, who picked up 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, was making his play-off debut.

Jimmy Butler III scored 38 points and Stephen Curry 37 as the Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 at Chase Center in San Francisco to progress as the Western Conference seventh seeds.

“I’m telling you, that’s a Batman if I’ve ever seen a Batman – always coming to save the day,” Butler said of Curry.

“You’re never out of any game. He’s so poised, so calm and he was a huge part of getting us the victory.”

In the East, Cole Anthony scored 26 points off the bench as the Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 at Kia Center in Orlando.

The Warriors will meet the Houston Rockets in the play-offs and the Magic will face the Boston Celtics, with game one of their best-of-seven series scheduled for Sunday.

The Grizzlies have a second chance to reach the play-offs when they play the winner of Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat.

The Hawks face the Sacramento Kings or the Dallas Mavericks for the right to progress in the West.

Brandin Podziemski contributed a further 28 points with a career-high eight three-pointers as the Warriors maintained their late-season momentum.

James replied with 33 points for the Lakers, with Austin Reaves adding 31 including a career-high nine three-pointers.

But the home defeat left the Lakers fourth in the Western Conference, one game better than a Warriors team which has now won four in succession and 20 of their past 24 games since Jimmy Butler – who scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter – joined from the Miami Heat in February.

The Lakers won the first three games between the teams this season but could not produce a fightback after closing to within five points at 105-100.

Elsewhere, Ja Morant clinched victory on the buzzer for the Memphis Grizzlies over the Miami Heat, completing his 30-point game to seal a 110-108 win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 126-113 victory over the host Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 35 points, a career-high 20 assists and 17 rebounds.

Shaedon Sharpe equalled his career-best 36 points as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Toronto Raptors 112-103.

Meanwhile, Paolo Banchero helped the Orlando Magic to a 109-97 win at the Washington Wizards with 33 points, while Anthony Edwards scored 28 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their 105-90 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Aaron Gordon scored a season-high 38 points in a 105-114 win for the Nuggets, who were without star centre Nikola Jokic.

It is Gordon’s highest points haul since joining the Nuggets from the Orlando Magic in 2021.

“We played poorly out of the gate and never found rhythm and they played great,” said Kerr.

“The right team won. We didn’t deserve anything. We were awful.”

Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, secured his 203rd by scoring 12 points with 11 rebounds and 16 assists.

Jimmy Butler III scored 23 points and Stephen Curry 20 in reply for the Warriors, who lost for just the second time in 14 matches.

Denver remain fourth in the Western Conference, with Golden State occupying the final play-off place in sixth.

The Los Angeles Lakers, still without the injured LeBron James, are just behind the Nuggets in fourth after beating the San Antonio Spurs 125-109.

Austin Reaves top-scored with 30 points for the Lakers, with Luka Doncic adding 21 points with nine rebounds and 14 assists.

The Houston Rockets overturned a 25-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 144-137 in overtime and stay second in the Western Conference.

The Minnesota Timberwolves also needed overtime to beat the Indiana Pacers 132-130, with Obi Toppin scoring 34 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

The New York Knicks won 116-95 against the Miami Heat to stay third in the East, while the Detroit Pistons are sixth after beating the New Orleans Pelican 127-81.

Curry, who already held the record for most career three-pointers, required just two more to hit the milestone figure when he stepped on to court to face the Sacramento Kings.

The American, 37, achieved the feat in the third quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco.

“It’s just such an obscene number,” Kerr told ESPN. “It’s hard to even comprehend and who knows, maybe it’ll be broken someday.

“It’s beyond the numbers. It’s the fluidity and the grace. Yes, it’s the audacity [to take some of the Curry threes], but it’s also the emotion and the beauty of it all.

“It’s mesmerizing. You see his movement on the floor. He’s like a ballerina out there. You’re not just watching sports, you’re watching art.”

Curry became the all-time leading scorer for three-pointers in 2021 when he surpassed Ray Allen’s record of 2,973 at Madison Square Garden.

His achievement in the 130-104 win against the Kings was celebrated with a tribute on the big screen during a timeout shortly after the basket landed.

“It’s a clear milestone threshold,” Curry told ESPN.

“A number that I didn’t think about, that it was realistic even from 2,974, which is a number that means the most because that was the record at the time.

“It’s beyond my wildest dreams to push a record that far.”

The Warriors sit sixth in the Western Conference after recording a sixth successive win, with the Kings in ninth.

Curry ended the game, which took place a day before his 37th birthday, with 11 points and five assists.

The four-time NBA champion boasts several three-point records, including the two longest streaks for most consecutive regular-season games with at least one three-pointer made (268 and 157).

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden is second on the list of most three-pointers with 3,120.

The 36-year-old finished with a season-best 56 points as the Warriors made it five wins in a row.

Curry was in an inspired mood, outscoring the Magic in the third quarter with 22 points to their 21.

The pick of the two-time most valuable player’s three-pointers came at the end of the second quarter, when he hit a buzzer-beater from well within his own half.

Curry’s haul came from just 25 shots – the second-fewest in NBA history in a match with 55-plus points behind the 24 James Harden needed with the Houston Rockets in 2019.

“I think the fans here tonight, even the Magic fans, they know they’re witnessing the greatest shooter ever, and one of the greatest performers ever,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

“It’s not just the shots going in, it’s just the fluidity, the beauty of his movement and motion and his audacity, the shots that he’s willing to take.

“He’s an incredible performer and he put on quite a show tonight.”

Curry’s career-high match total came against the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021, when he netted 62 points.

He has hit 12 or more three-pointers in a single game three times in his career, with his haul of 13 coming against the New Orleans Pelicans in 2016.

Curry was one of four players to get 20 points or more, with Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody combining for 43 while Buddy Hield had 22.

The win moved the Warriors above the Kings in the Western Conference standings into ninth.

Curry’s tally of 20 meant he also tied with NBA legend Michael Jordan for the most games with 20 or more points by a guard after turning 35.

Western Conference leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder returned from the All-Star break to beat the Utah Jazz 130-107 in Salt Lake City.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points and Chet Holmgren got 20 as Thunder grabbed their eighth win in nine outings.

Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers claimed a dominant 142-106 victory over the New York Knicks to tighten their grip on the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks have won 46 of their 56 games so far.

The Milwaukee Bucks edged the Washington Wizards 104-101, with Brook Lopez claiming 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Miami Heat won 120-111 at the Toronto Raptors to end a four-game losing streak, the Detroit Pistons beat the San Antonio Spurs 125-110, the Dallas Mavericks saw off the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 and the Houston Rockets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-115.

The 35-year-old was suspended three times by the Heat in 2025 for behavioural issues, including “conduct detrimental to the team”, missing a flight and walking out of a team practice.

Throughout those suspensions the Heat said they would listen to trade offers for Butler, who has not played since 21 January.

The trade sees the Warriors give the Heat Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a 2025 protected first-round draft pick in return for Butler.

“All of that is behind me, moving forward,” said Butler when asked about the speculation that surrounded him over the past month.

“I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be wanted again. I’ve got a feeling I’m [going to] be back, in a big way, too. So I’m smiling.

“I’ve been going at it, I’ve been training, I’ve been doing everything I’m supposed to be doing. I know that I have my joy back now. I’m in a different situation, different group of guys.”

Butler is yet to win the Championship but has made that a clear aim at the Warriors.

“I would like to say that I am a winner,” said Butler. “I haven’t won ‘it’ but I would like to call myself a winner. I do want to win ‘it’ – it being a championship.”

There were reports Butler wanted to move to the Phoenix Suns but the deal was eventually done with the Warriors and ESPN has reported he has signed a two-year contract worth $111m (£90m).

Butler is hoping to make his debut for the Warriors against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday (Sunday 01:00 GMT).

“He is a big-time pressure player, post-season player,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “So that would fit well in our locker room. We’ve got other guys who have been through the battles, been through the war.

“So I think when you put a group of guys like that together, there’s going to be a belief, there’s going to be a confidence that comes with that. And so I’m excited to see what that looks like.”

Butler’s move will see him line up alongside 11-time NBA All-Star and two-time MVP Stephen Curry, who has said he will watch video footage of the Heat to see how Butler’s game will suit the Warriors.

Asked about that, Butler said: “We good. Pass the ball to Steph. And get out the way. Easy.”

James stars in Lakers win over Warriors

Butler was unveiled alongside the Warriors’ general Michael Joseph Dunleavy Jr before their game at the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors lost 120-112 as LeBron James scored 42 points to join Michael Jordan as the only 40-year-olds to score more than 40 points in an NBA game.

Jordan scored 43 points for the Washington Wizards against the New Jersey Nets in 2003, four days after his 40th birthday.

James scored a season-best 17 rebounds, alongside eight assists and six three-pointers, as the Lakers won their fourth straight game and 10th in their past 12.

The Lakers are fifth in the Western Conference, with the Warriors in 11th.

Elsewhere, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Boston Celtics 127-120 despite the continued absence of Anthony Davis with an abdominal strain since his trade from LA Lakers that involved Luka Donic.

NBA results

Dallas Mavericks 127-120 Boston Celtics

Houston Rockets 114-127 Minnesota Timberwolves

Orlando Magic 90-112 Denver Nuggets

Sacramento Kings 102-108 Portland Trail Blazers

Golden State Warriors 112-120 LA Lakers

Indiana Pacers 119-112 LA Clippers

Canada’s Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in the first half as his side led 58-48 at the break but Golden State fought back to pull away for victory.

The home side were led by Andrew Wiggins’s 27 points, while Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 21 in the second half.

“We just stayed solid. Just all around effort,” said Curry.

“We need every win possible. We haven’t really developed anything consistent in terms of the win column. So this is a great test.”

Despite defeat, Thunder remain top of the Western Conference while Golden State improve their record to 24-23.

In Wednesday’s other matches, the Cleveland Cavaliers maintained their lead over defending champions the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference with victory over the Miami Heat.

The Cavs, who were missing Darius Garland, Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro, were led by 34 points from Donovan Mitchell in a 126-106 win.

The Celtics thumped the Chicago Bulls 122-100 with Kristaps Porzingis sinking eight three-pointers in his score of 34.

Elsewhere, there were wins for the New York Knicks over the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers against the Detroit Pistons, while the Los Angeles Clippers beat the San Antonio Spurs.

Commissioner suggests switch to 10-minute quarters

Meanwhile, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has raised the possibility of switching from 12-minute to 10-minute quarters.

Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, he cited an evolving television audience and the need to align with international rules as reasons for the potential change.

Silver added it is not something the league is actively considering and acknowledged it would need further study to be implemented.

“I’m a fan of four 10-minute quarters. I’m not sure that many others are,” he said.

“It’s such a dramatic change to the game. I think something like that would have to be talked more about over time.”

The NBA has played 48-minute games throughout its history, but Olympic and other international games are 40 minutes long, while US collegiate men’s games are played in two 20-minute periods.

Should the NBA make the change, it would likely make some single-game and single-season records impossible to break.

“Because this game is so global, one of the things we’d like to see over time is creating a more consistent set of rules globally around the game,” added Silver.

“Putting aside what it would mean for records and things like that, I think that a two-hour format for a game is more consistent for modern television habits.”

Kerr, who won five NBA Championships as a player, has claimed a further four as head coach of the Warriors since taking charge in 2014.

But the Warriors were outclassed by the defending champions, who showed no mercy in a 40-point victory that is the Warriors’ biggest home defeat since a 45-point reverse against the Dallas Mavericks in 1985.

Leading by 15 points at half-time, the Celtics hit 43 points in the third quarter alone to underline their dominance.

Jayson Tatum top scored for the Celtics with 22 points, while Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown added 18 points and 17 points respectively.

“We’ve got to flush this one down the toilet and get ready for Sac,” said Kerr, whose side face the Sacramento Kings in their next match.

“We’ve been very competitive all year. Our guys have fought, but we’ve had a handful of these where we get blown out. These are demoralising.”

The Warriors, who last won the Championship in 2022 by beating the Celtics in the finals, sit a place outside the play-off positions in the Western Conference in 11th spot.

The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference standings behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Curry, 36, made all eight of his three-point attempts for the first time in his career as he finished with 30 points and 10 assists.

And it meant the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player became the first person in league history to go at least eight-for-eight on three-pointers and reach double-digit assists in the same game.

The NBA record of nine-for-nine was set in 2003 by Latrell Sprewell, before it was matched by Ben Gordon – both in 2006 and 2012 – and by Jalen Brunson in 2023.

Jonathan Kuminga chipped in 20 points off the bench, while Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Dennis Schroder scored 15 apiece.

Victory improved the Warriors’ season record to 17-16 while the 76ers fell to 13-19.

Elsewhere, defending NBA champions the Boston Celtics sneaked past the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 118-115 win.

LeBron James scored 38 points with eight assists and Max Christie added a career-high 28 as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the Portland Trail Blazers 114-106.

The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their lead at the top of the Western Conference with a 116-98 home victory against the LA Clippers, while the Brooklyn Nets won 113-110 at at the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers triumphed 128-115 at the Miami Heat.

The 36-year-old first limped out of the game in the third quarter, when he received treatment for a twisted ankle.

Curry, a two-time MVP, returned to the game four minutes into the fourth quarter but immediately aggravated the issue and had to be helped to the locker room by team-mate Gary Payton.

“He’s doing OK. He used the word ‘mild’ or ‘moderate’,” Kerr said.

“He’s obviously sprained that ankle many times before. He doesn’t think it’s too bad, but it’s a concern.”

Curry, who has an extensive history of ankle injuries, scored 18 points as the Warriors lost their first game of the NBA season.

Ivica Zubac and James Harden both totalled 23 points for the Clippers.

It was Zubac’s second successive double-double as the Croatian put up 17 rebounds with six assists to go with his 23 points.

“Every time they needed a bucket, they seemed to get one from Zubac,” Kerr said.

Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 124-118 while the Houston Rockets narrowly lost 109-106 against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Miami Heat cruised past the Charlotte Hornets 114-106 after unveiling a statue of franchise legend Dwayne Wade.

Wade, 42, is Miami’s leading all-time scorer and led the Heat to three NBA Championships over two stints in Florida.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Dwayne Wade retired in 2019

The Mavericks, without Luka Doncic, led 105-99 late on but Stephen Curry levelled for the Warriors at 106-106.

Washington then scored a layup before Klay Thompson missed a three-pointer for the Warriors, whose six-game winning run came to an end.

Washington scored a game-high 32 points, while Curry top-scored for his side with 28 points.

Elsewhere, Xavier Tillman scored with 7.4 seconds left for the Boston Celtics as they held off a Sacramento Kings comeback to win 101-100.

The Celtics led by 19 points during the fourth quarter before a 16-1 run brought the Kings back into the game.

De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 40 points for the Kings, including seven three-pointers, and put his side 100-99 in front with 27 seconds left.

But Tillman restored his side’s lead and they held on to win their 61st game of the season.

The Milwaukee Bucks, who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo, were beaten 117-111 by the Toronto Raptors, who ended a 15-game losing streak.

Gary Trent Jr top scored for the Raptors with 31 points, while Damian Lillard registered 36 points for the Bucks.

There were also wins for the Phoenix Suns, who beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-87, and the Indiana Pacers, who emerged 126-112 victors against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

James scored 40 points for the Lakers but could not stop the Warriors leapfrogging them into ninth place in the Western Conference.

“They always going to talk about me and him,” Curry said of James.

“It was about our total group tonight. For us, it takes a whole team to win and we needed it – we needed it bad.”

The match was marred by lengthy replay delays, with one overturning a three-pointer from James, and multiple shot-clock malfunctions with about two minutes to go.

“I’ve never seen that in my career. Usually they have a back-up clock or something,” said 36-year-old Curry, who returned after a three-game absence because of an ankle injury.

“That’s the worst thing that could happen, especially this age. You build up all pre-game, you get going and when the engine shuts off it’s hard to get it going again.”

The Warriors are a percentage point above the Lakers, with both teams in the last two play-in positions in the Western Conference.

The Lakers were hindered by losing Anthony Davis after the first quarter because of an eye injury.

“A big win for us,” added Curry. “I don’t know the last time we won in here against them. Big deal.”

Elsewhere, Jalen Brunson scored 42 points to help the New York Knicks to a 98-91 victory against the Sacramento Kings.

Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 118-112 to move top of the Western Conference, alongside the Denver Nuggets with a 47-20 record.

Jalen Williams scored 23 points and registered seven rebounds and six assists in the Thunder’s win.

Seven-time NBA champions Golden State had suffered a staggering 52-point loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

But they scored an impressive 40 points in Wednesday’s first quarter, adding 38 in the second to take a decisive 78-58 lead at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

“For us to respond the way we did coming home was big,” said Curry.

“The nature of the NBA, you can get hit by a bus like we did in Boston and there’s a temptation to forget the body of work that we’ve put in over the last month and a half and the identity we’re trying to create.

“For us to be able to turn the page, play with conviction and confidence after a beatdown like that, it shows what we’re trying to build and who we are.”

The Warriors had been unbeaten since the All-Star break with a record of six straight victories.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee’s scorers with 23 points and his side remain second in the Eastern Conference with a 41-22 record while Golden State improved to 33-28 and sit ninth in the Western Conference.

Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic extended their winning run to five games with a 119-109 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Franz Wagner scored 28 points to help the Magic overturn a 21-point deficit in the second quarter to snatch victory.

The Los Angeles Clippers recovered after trailing by 20 in the second quarter to beat the Houston Rockets 122-116 while the Los Angeles Lakers lost 130-120 to the Sacramento Kings.

Jayson Tatum, on his 26th birthday, scored 27 points for the Celtics, who are top of the Eastern Conference, and team-mate Jaylen Brown added 29 points.

The victory meant the Celtics became the first franchise in NBA history to win three games by 50 or more points in the same season.

“It’s up there. Great birthday,” said Tatum.

“Got to do what I love in front of the best fans in the world and get a win.”

The hosting Celtics, who now have a 48-12 record, led 82-38 at half-time and both sides rested some of their star players for the second half.

“You flush it down the toilet,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, whose side are ninth in the Western Conference.

“Boston were amazing, we weren’t beating them today. They were fantastic. This was a really impressive performance by them at both ends.”

Elsewhere, Victor Wembanyama registered 31 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, six blocked shots and a steal to help the San Antonio Spurs beat the visiting Indiana Pacers 117-105.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, who are top of the Western Conference with a 42-18 record, beat seventh-placed Phoenix Suns 118-110.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 35 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals for the Thunder.

The Hawks’ Dejounte Murray scored from 14 feet with 4.6 seconds left to tie the game at 123-123 in regulation time.

Curry, who registered 62 against the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021, scored eight points in overtime, but in vain.

Meanwhile, LeBron James scored 24 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 113-105.

James posted an hourglass on social media, external on 31 January to raise speculation he could be traded before this Thursday’s deadline.

The 39-year-old then missed a win against the Boston Celtics because of an ankle injury before his agent told ESPN, external that his client would not be traded and “we aren’t asking to be”.

James returned to action against the Knicks, whose nine-game winning run was ended by defeat against a Lakers side who outscored them 33-19 in the fourth quarter.

“We just turned up our defensive intensity,” said James. “We were really on point and on time with our doubles, with our hits, with our rotations.”

James, the oldest player in the NBA at 39, scored 36 points plus a career-high 20 rebounds and 12 assists.

James secured victory by sinking his two free throws with just a second remaining on the clock.

Curry managed a game-high 46 points and seven assists on the losing side.

Four-time MVP James acknowledged his duel with Curry was one he would look back fondly on when his career is over.

“Steph came to me after the game and said ‘how does it keep getting better?'” James said.

“It’s something that you will truly take all in when you are done playing.

“When you are able to watch with your grandkids and say that I played against one of the best ever to play this game.”

The Warriors grabbed a one-point lead thanks to a superb 28-foot, three-point jumper from Curry with 5.2 seconds left.

Klay Thompson took the game into the second period of overtime after his 25-foot three-pointer with seven seconds remaining before James had the final word.

MVP Embiid sits out as Nuggets beat 76ers

NBA defending champions Denver Nuggets clinched a 111-105 win over Philadelphia 76ers, who were without star centre Joel Embiid.

Embiid became one of only 10 players in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game when the 76ers beat the San Antonio Spurs 133-123 last week.

Reigning MVP Embiid went through his pre-match warm-up but was withdrawn by the team’s medical staff with soreness in his knee.

It was the 11th game Embiid has missed this season, and he can only afford to sit out six more to remain eligible for the league’s awards, including MVP.

Two-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic top scored with 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Nuggets, while Jamal Murray added 23 points.

Green was banned indefinitely for striking Phoenix Suns player Jusuf Nurkic in the face during the Warriors’ 119-116 defeat in December.

The incident was the third time the 33-year-old had been ejected this season.

The NBA said Green had “completed steps that demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players”.

It added: “He has engaged in meetings with a counsellor and has met jointly on multiple occasions with representatives of the NBA, the Warriors, and the National Basketball Players Association, both of which will continue throughout the season.”

When Green was given his indefinite suspension, the NBA said it had given him a rare open-ended ban because of his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts”.

He was given a five-game ban for putting Minnesota Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert in a headlock on 14 November.

The forward was also ejected for two technical fouls against the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier in November and was suspended during the play-offs in April after stamping on Sacramento Kings player Domantas Sabonis.

In 2016 he was suspended for game five of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers for a low blow on LeBron James.

Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 48 points and registered 17 rebounds but could not stop his Milwaukee Bucks side from losing 112-108 to the Houston Rockets.

Alperen Sengun, with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr, with 14 points and 12 rebounds, posted double-doubles for the Rockets in the victory.

Jayson Tatum registered 38 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as well as making eight of his 13 three-point attempts as he helped the Boston Celtics to a 118-101 victory against the Indiana Pacers.

The Nuggets trailed by 18 points with just under seven minutes remaining but ended the game with a 25-4 scoring run.

Jokic capped a 34-point night by shooting from just beyond midcourt with 1.3 seconds on the clock to secure the win.

Denver sit third in the Western Conference with the Warriors in 11th.

Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks recovered from back-to-back defeats courtesy of a 125-121 win against the San Antonio Spurs.

Giannis Antetokounmpo impressed with a game-high 44 points for the Bucks, also chipping in with 14 rebounds.

Milwaukee are second in the Eastern Conference. San Antonio, who lost a fourth successive game and have won just five of their 35 fixtures this campaign, are bottom of the West.

Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points and Klay Thompson 15 for the Warriors who are 11th in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, Eastern Conference leaders the Boston Celtics were beaten 127-123 at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 36 points for the Thunder.

They are now unbeaten in five games and sit second behind the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference.

The Charlotte Hornets ended an 11-game losing run by beating the Sacramento Kings 111-104 with Terry Rozier scoring 34 points.

Joel Embiid, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, returned from an 11-day injury absence to produce a triple-double of 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Chicago Bulls 110-97.

Elsewhere, the New Orleans Pelicans thrashed the Brooklyn Nets 112-85 while the Memphis Grizzlies beat the San Antonio Spurs 106-98.

With the shot clock running out, Curry hit a three-pointer as the Warriors won 132-126 at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

The Warriors trailed from halftime until the second minute of overtime as they registered a third successive win.

Eastern Conference leaders Boston saw a five-game wining run end.

Steve Kerr’s Warriors, who sit 11th in the Western Conference, are building momentum at just the right time as they close in on the play-off places.

Elsewhere, the struggling Memphis Grizzlies benefited from Ja Morant’s return from a 25-game suspension following social media posts in which he displayed a gun.

Morant scored 34 points with eight assists and six rebounds as he drove for a game-winning layup with time expiring to lead the Grizzlies to a 115-113 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

“I ain’t played a game in eight months,” he told broadcaster TNT. “Had a lot of time… a lot of hard days where I went through it.

“But you know, basketball is my life, what I love, therapeutic for me and I’m just excited to be back.”

Damian Lillard scored a season-high 40 points as Milwaukee Bucks beat San Antonio Spurs 132-119.

Lillard became the 51st NBA player to reach 20,000 career points to help the Bucks extend their winning streak to five.

“The 20,000 points, when I hear that it takes me back to the beginning,” Lillard said. “It’s a blessing and an honour to have that type of accomplishment.”

The Phoenix Suns’ hopes of sealing a playoff berth took a hit as they slumped to a third defeat from their last four fixtures when going down 109-104 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Anfernee Simons registered 23 points and seven assists as Portland snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Curry passed the mark midway through the first quarter and finished with 37 points, including six three-pointers, as the Warriors came through 124-120.

The 35-year-old also scored 12 straight points in less than two minutes in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

It ended a three-game losing streak for the Warriors.

Team-mate Klay Thompson, who moved into ninth place on the career three-pointer leaderboard, finished with 24 points while four others scored in double figures for the Warriors.

Cam Thomas had a game-high 41 points for the Nets, who had two shots at either a tie or a lead in the final one minute and 28 seconds before losing for the third time in four outings on a five-game trip.

Curry and Klay Thompson each made five three-pointers as Houston lost for the fifth time on the road this season.

The victory is the Warriors’ first win in three matches since Draymond Green began a five-game ban.

Also on Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 142-129 over the Washington Wizards.

Antetokounmpo made 20 of his 23 attempts to finish with 42 points, while he added 13 rebounds and eight assists.

The Denver Nuggets overcame the ejection of two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and head coach Michael Malone to claim a 107-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Jokic exited with 1:22 left in the first half after giving up two technical fouls, while Malone was ejected after arguing a call late in the first quarter.

Reggie Jackson led the reigning champions with 21 points while the Pistons slumped to a 12th straight loss.

Meanwhile, French teenager Victor Wembanyama, the number one draft pick, was restricted to just nine points as the San Antonio Spurs lost their ninth successive match – beaten 124-99 by the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Miami Heat cruised to a 118-100 win at the Chicago Bulls, with Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson scoring 23 and 22 points respectively.

Brandon Ingram scored 32 points, hitting all five of his attempted three-pointers, to power the New Orleans Pelicans to a 129-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum’s 45-point display was not enough for the Boston Celtics who were beaten 121-118 by the Charlotte Hornets, with Miles Bridges hitting a match-winning three-pointer with six seconds left in overtime.

Anthony Edwards scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New York Knicks 117-100 in Minneapolis.

Chet Holmgren scored a three-pointer to level at 117-117 with seven-tenths of a second left in regulation time.

Team-mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander then scored 10 of his 40 points in overtime to help the Thunder to victory.

The Warriors were again without Draymond Green as he serves a five-game ban.

Green received his suspension for putting Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert in a headlock.

Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 40 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Dallas Mavericks 132-125.

Milwaukee were 12 points behind during the second half but outscored the Mavericks 43-27 in the final quarter on the way to the win.

“We’re building something special. You can feel it. I thought it was a great character game,” said Bucks coach Adrian Griffin.

The Miami Heat saw their seven-game winning streak brought to an end with a 102-97 defeat by the Chicago Bulls, while the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 121-120 in another close game.

Victor Wembanyama was again impressive for the San Antonio Spurs but they let a 19-point lead slip in a 120-108 defeat by the Memphis Grizzlies.

French rookie Wembanyama, 19, scored 19 points with 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots but the Spurs suffered an eighth straight loss.

Three players were ejected for fighting inside the first two minutes of Minnesota’s 104-101 win on Tuesday.

Green wrapped his arm around Gobert’s neck after Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels grabbed each others’ jerseys.

NBA vice-president Joe Dumars said Green was sanctioned without pay for “escalating an on-court altercation”.

Green, who will begin his suspension on Thursday when the Warriors host the Oklahoma City Thunder, was suspended for “forcibly grabbing” Gobert around the neck “in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner,” said Dumars.

Green was also ejected in the Warriors’ defeat by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday and suspended during the play-offs in April after stamping on the Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis.

The NBA said his disciplinary record helped determine the length of the ban.

“I do hope the league’s going to do whatever needs to be done because that’s just clown behaviour,” Gobert said after the incident, which took place in the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.

Golden State’s Thompson and Minnesota’s McDaniels and Gobert, all of whom were ejected after one minute 43 seconds, have been fined $25,000 (£20,200) by the NBA.

The Warriors have lost four consecutive games and Green is averaging 8.8 points, 5.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds from nine games this season.

He will be eligible to return against the Sacramento Kings on 28 November.

In the regular NBA season, the Boston Celtics went top of the Eastern Conference with a 117-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to 29 points from Jayson Tatum and 27 from Derrick White.

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker scored 39 points each as the Phoenix Suns triumphed 133-115 to end the Timberwolves’ seven-game winning run.

In the absence of injured two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard’s 37 points helped the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Toronto Raptors 128-112.

Domantas Sabonis scored 29 points, De’Aaron Fox 28 and Kevin Huerter 28 as the Sacramento Kings claimed a 125-110 win over the LA Lakers, for whom LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell contributed 28 apiece.

Tim Hardaway Jr registered 31 points and Luka Doncic 26 to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Washington Wizards 130-117.

The Warriors edged in front in the third quarter after trailing for most of the game by outscoring Denver 31-23.

But the reigning NBA champions recovered from the five-point deficit to snatch victory and stay top of the Western Conference.

“We don’t have the pressure of being a champion, we’re just trying to enjoy the moment,” Jokic told ESPN.

“I’m just trying to play the game the right way. And as long as we’re winning, I think I’m doing a good job,” added the Serbian, who also had 13 rebounds and five assists.

Reggie Jackson scored 20 points and Michael Porter 17 for Denver, while Stephen Curry’s 23 points led the scoring for 2022 champions Warriors.

Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected after picking up a second technical foul as the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a late 10-point deficit to beat the Detroit Pistons 120-118.

Antetokounmpo, who scored 15 points, received a caution in the first quarter and then another three minutes into the second half, triggering an automatic ejection.

Milwaukee’s new recruit Damian Lillard posted 34 points.

Joel Embiid posted 27 points with 10 rebounds and four assists as the Philadelphia 76ers secured a sixth consecutive win with 106-103 against the Boston Celtics.

Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points for Philadelphia, who sit first place in the Eastern Conference.

The injury-hit Los Angeles Lakers’ poor away form continued as the Houston Rockets thrashed the visitors 128-94 in Texas.

Rui Hachimura led the scoring for the Lakers with 34 points but coach Darvin Ham’s side has now lost all five games on the road this season.

“It’s tough, we’re juggling different circumstances with guys being in and out of the line-up,” said Ham.

“But at the end of the day, no-one’s [going to] feel sorry for you, especially when you’re a Los Angeles Laker.”

San Antonio Spurs could not bounce back after their heavy loss to Indiana Pacers on Monday and succumbed to a 126-105 defeat by the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Spurs’ number one draft pick Victor Wembanyama scored 14 points on a night that marked the team’s fourth straight game in which they have conceded 120 points or more.

Also in New York, James Harden was left looking for his first win since joining the Los Angeles Clippers after the Brooklyn Nets claimed a 100-93 victory.

Paul George was the Clippers’ top scorer with 24 points but the Brooklyn defence restricted Harden to just 12 points.

In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put 43 points on the scoreboard as the Thunder celebrated a 128-120 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Curry’s layup was allowed to stand following a review for team-mate Draymond Green making contact with the basket rim as the ball went in.

Overall, Curry top scored for his side with 30 points, while team-mate Dario Saric added 20 points off the bench.

“You just saw two teams competing,” said Green.

“We talk about this in-season tournament, and it’s a play-off game. It was a fun game to play in and the intensity level was there so job well done to the NBA.”

The new tournament involves a group stage in which 30 teams have been randomly split into six groups of five.

Teams in each group will play each other before a knockout stage of eight sides.

The quarter-finals will be made up of the six group winners and two teams from each conference who have the best group records in second place.

Nikola Jokic had 33 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists for the Denver Nuggets as they started their campaign in the competition with a 125-114 win against the Dallas Mavericks.

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Luka Doncic scored 34 points as well as registering 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Mavericks.

The new franchise will play at the Chase Center in San Francisco, where the men’s Warriors team are based.

They will be the 13th team in the WNBA but the first new members of the league since 2008.

“We are thrilled about expanding to the Bay Area and to a region with passionate basketball fans,” said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

The team will be owned and operated by Warriors majority owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber.

“The WNBA continues to solidify itself as the preeminent women’s professional basketball league, and we look forward to supporting the best women’s basketball players in the world and our team starting in 2025,” said Lacob.

The Warriors will be the sixth NBA team to have a WNBA team.

Eight-time All-Star Curry, 34, led the Warriors’ scoring while Andrew Wiggins scored 20 points.

The Warriors are aiming for a fifth title in the past nine seasons.

LeBron James, who hopes to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time points scoring record this season, finished with 31 points for the Lakers.

While the Warriors are favourites to retain the championship, they endured a turbulent off-season with head coach Steve Kerr describing a recent clash between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole as the “biggest crisis” he has faced during almost a decade in charge.

However, they ensured off-court issues did not affect the opening game of the season as they pulled away over the final three quarters to comfortably see off the Lakers in San Francisco.

After receiving diamond-encrusted rings in the pre-game ceremony, the Warriors were held to 25 points in the first quarter but hit 34, 32 and 32 in the final three periods as they outscored the Lakers 48-30 on three-pointers.

“The ceremony was an amazing celebration, to take time to reflect on what you accomplished, watching the banner go up, looking at the highlight tapes and all that,” said Curry.

“It’s really hard to turn the page and go and play a game of basketball, but we figured how to do it. Now we can look forward to the rest of the year.”

Klay Thompson finished the game with 18 points for the champions, Poole notched 12 points and seven assists off the bench while Curry also managed seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.

Despite James’ 31-point haul, the Lakers – who missed out on the 2022 play-offs after a disappointing campaign – opened the season with defeat for the sixth year in a row.

James, 37, moves on to 37,093 points, 1,294 shy of Abdul-Jabbar’s record that has stood since 1984.

• Curry calls for Griner freedom

During the ring ceremony, Curry made an impassioned speech in support of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who in August was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Russian court on drug charges.

Eight-time WNBA All-Star Griner was detained in February at an airport near Moscow when vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage.

“We want to continue to use our platform and the opportunity to shout out a very special member of the basketball community. Brittney Griner’s birthday is today, she’s 32,” said Curry.

“We want to continue to let her name be known and we pray. It’s been 243 days since she was wrongfully incarcerated in Russia.

“We hope that she comes home soon, that everybody’s doing their part to get her home.”

• Celtics start strongly

Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each hit 35 points as the Boston Celtics opened the season with a 126-117 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

James Harden led Philadelphia with 35 points while Joel Embiid – who won last season’s scoring title by averaging 30.6 points per game – finished on 26.

Wednesday’s fixtures

• Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards
• Detroit Pistons v Orlando Magic
• Miami Heat v Chicago Bulls
• Toronto Raptors v Cleveland Cavaliers
• Memphis Grizzlies v New York Knicks
• Atlanta Hawks v Houston Rockets
• Brooklyn Nets v New Orleans Pelicans
• Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder
• San Antonio Spurs v Charlotte Hornets
• Utah Jazz v Denver Nuggets
• Phoenix Suns v Dallas Mavericks
• Sacramento Kings v Portland Trail Blazers

The Warriors won 103-90 in game six in Boston to clinch the series 4-2.

Having finished 2019-20 with a dire 15-50 record, they are also the first team to go from the league’s worst side to a championship in two years.

Stephen Curry, twice the most valuable player in the regular season, was NBA Finals MVP for the first time.

The 34-year-old averaged 31.2 points in the six games and scored 34 points in Thursday’s win, adding seven assists and seven rebounds.

Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points and Jordan Poole 15 as Golden State won the NBA championship for the first time in four years.

They also won the title in 2015 and 2017, but lost the 2016 and 2019 finals before missing out on the play-offs in the past two seasons while rebuilding their squad.

Kevin Durant left as a free agent in 2019 while Curry and Klay Thompson were injured during the 2019-20 season.

Both have played a key role for the San Francisco-based franchise in each of their recent title wins, with Thompson scoring 12 points on Thursday.

“We found a way to just get it done,” said Curry, who was the seventh overall draft pick by the Warriors in 2009.

“You always have a doubt, but you know how long the road is to get back here because of how hard it is to win at this level.”

The Celtics led 14-2 after four minutes and 22-16 late in the first quarter before the Warriors went on a 21-0 run to go 37-22 up with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half.

When Curry scored three three-pointers in the first six minutes of the third quarter, pushing Golden State’s lead to 72-50. he nodded his head and began pointing to his ring finger.

“We built this for like 10 or 11 years and that means a lot when you get to this stage because you know how to win,” said Curry.

“Everybody who has been a part of this knows what that is about. This one hits different, for sure.”

Victory sees the six-time NBA champions level the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Curry scored five three-pointers as well as making six rebounds and four assists as the Warriors dominated the second half in San Francisco.

“Steph was breathtaking in that third quarter,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

“Not just the shot making but the defensive effort. He just doesn’t get enough credit for his level of conditioning, physicality and defence.

“People go at him to try to wear him down because they know how important he is to us offensively. And it is pretty dramatic, the difference in Steph’s strength and physicality between now and when I first got here eight years ago.

“The guy is amazing; he just keeps working.”

The Celtics had picked up where they left off in game one to take an early nine-point lead, but 11 first-half turnovers allowed the Warriors back into the contest to hold a two-point advantage at the break.

In the second half, the Celtics continued to collapse, committing 19 turnovers that led to 33 points for the Warriors.

“For us, that was a little disappointing,” said Celtics head coach Ime Udoka.

“That’s kind of been a constant theme in the play-offs. When that happens, we’re in trouble.”

Game three is on Wednesday in Boston. In previous NBA Finals where the series has been tied at 1-1, the team that won game three has gone on to win the championship 82.1% of the time.

Prior to Sunday’s game, players and coaches from both teams wore t-shirts that said ‘End Gun Violence’ on the front following recent shootings in the United States.