NBA schedule and results: Warriors survive in OT for win No. 68, Lakers host Heat amidst internal strife

Kobe Bryant will go down as one of the best players in NBA history. The lasting image of his career will likely be him scoring over someone or scowling down the court after a big shot.

As long as it’s anything but this.

You almost wonder if part of it is psychology at this point. The Jazz haven’t been great in close, late situations this season, but their breakdown continued a pattern of opponents falling apart late against Golden State. It almost seems like everyone in the building is waiting for the Warriors to put their stamp on a game even when they’re losing. When the Warriors were down three with 24 seconds left, you knew the team would attempt a three-pointer. You also expected it to go in.

And it did. Thompson hit the big three with 15 seconds remaining to tie the game at 89, which forced an overtime period during which Golden State pulled away quickly. Once the Jazz let their chance to win slip away on that final possession in regulation, it seemed inevitable that Golden State would go on to victory.

Good morning. Your soundtrack for this newsletter is the dulcet tones of DeAndre Jordan. Let’s basketball.

ALMOST THERE: Another close one vs. Utah (hmm), but Golden State got to No. 68. Need to finish at least 5-2 to hit 73-9. Draymond Green is a ridiculously good defender.

We’ve heard of the hidden ball trick in baseball, but this is the first time we’ve seen the hidden player trick in the NBA.

Lakers guard Marcelo Huertas intentionally hid behind Heat coach Erik Spoelstra then raced up behind an unsuspecting Goran Dragic to swipe the ball away. That’s right, an NBA player hid behind an opposing coach and it worked.

Just when you think the Sacramento Kings’ tumultuous situation can’t get any worse, it does -- or is this a sign of it getting better? Quite frankly, we just can’t tell anymore.

DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo were on the same page Wednesday night after a referee called a foul. Like teammates, they did something together. They clapped, albeit overtly sarcastically. And while the referees caught and punished them, maybe this is a step in the right direction? Or is this a step in the wrong direction with everyone on board?

The Jazz had the ball trailing by four points with just under two minutes left in overtime, desperately needing a bucket to avoid falling behind any further. Green became a one-man defensive wrecking crew, personally stopping Utah’s attack in the middle of the court before corralling the rebound off a desperate long range shot.

And guess who’s there rising up to get the rebound? Green. Of course.

A 3-on-0 fast break in the first quarter and up big against the Lakers: Sounds like the easiest shot in the world, right? Wrong. WRONG.

Even that task seemed too daunting for the Heat. A simple layup just hung around the rim until the ball decided that becoming two points wasn’t in its immediate plans. Sometimes things get a little too easy. No worries, the Lakers weren’t playing defense anyway.

As emotional as the Kobe Bryant farewell tour has been, there are some players who don’t buy into the fact that opponents should take it easy on Kobe. Dwyane Wade is one of those players.

Prior to the game, he praised Kobe without diminishing the importance of the actual game. He seemed determined to get the W against the troubled Lakers, and he’s backing it up so far with a great block against the Mamba.

The Clippers crushed the Timberwolves on Wednesday. That meant DeAndre Jordan didn’t need to play the final few minutes of the fourth quarter. Luckily, he found a way to pass the time.

Critics of Jordan’s lip-syncing skills might point out that he appears to just be making up words at various points. But, he got it all together when it really mattered to nail the “Yeah!” at the end. Nice work, DeAndre.

DeMar DeRozan drove into the lane and attempted a 360 layup. For a moment, it was a thing of beauty as he spun around a defender and reached out to scoop the ball into the bucket.

Paul Millsap wasn’t having it.

The former Ohio State star told The Vertical that he didn’t realize “these pranks that we pull on each other could have bigger consequences.” Still just 20 years old, Russell seems to be trying to use this as a learning experience for how to conduct himself professionally as part of an NBA team.

“I am sick,” Russell said. “I am sorry about recording the video. I can’t repeat myself enough on that: I am sorry I recorded that video. I feel horrible. I wish this never happened.”

After making the playoffs last season and hiring head coach Alvin Gentry, things were looking up for the New Orleans Pelicans. But then the 2015-16 season started and expectations faltered—a lot.

A big chunk of the Pelicans’ roster was lost due to season-ending injuries. It’s almost as if someone cursed the entire roster. At least someone thinks that. A voodoo priest admitted to the New Orleans Advocate that the Pelicans are indeed jinxed:

The way this season has gone for the Bulls, who ended a four-game losing skid, they might need to expect the unexpected if they’re going to find their way into the playoffs. Butler hit a pretty game-winner, his third against the Pacers this season ...

... but he had just 14 points and four rebounds for the game.