The Golden State Warriors set a new NBA record while Kobe Bryant waved goodbye to basketball with a stunning performance on the final day of the regular season.
The Warriors broke the Chicago Bulls’ record for most wins in a campaign by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104.
Stephen Curry led the way with 46 points and became the first player to score 400 three-pointers in the same season.
Five-time NBA champion Bryant rode off into the sunset in style, scoring 60 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 101-96.
Bryant’s 20th and final season ended with a career-high 50 shots and the fifth highest points return as he led the Lakers to victory.
Elsewhere, the Houston Rockets secured the last playoff spot in the Western Conference as James Harden scored 38 points in their 116-81 win against the Sacramento Kings.
The Detroit Pistons topped the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 in overtime, though both teams rested their key players ahead of their first playoff meeting this weekend.
Kobe Bryant scores 60pts in final NBA game of storied 20-year career. What an incredible way to bow out #MambaDay ? pic.twitter.com/OPelJftZWT
— Ben Smith (@BSmith) April 14, 2016
The Atlanta Hawks missed the chance to clinch the third seed in the Eastern Conference as they lost 109-98 to the Washington Wizards.
A win would have moved the Hawks above the Miami Heat, who blew a 26-point lead to lose 98-88 to the Boston Celtics, who clinched the fifth seed.
The Charlotte Hornets are seeded sixth after they beat the Orlando Magic 117-103, while Solomon Hill’s 25 points helped the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 97-92.
A young San Antonio Spurs side saw off the Dallas Mavericks 96-91 while the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans 144-109 and the Toronto Raptors were 103-96 winners against the Brooklyn Nets.
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets 107-99, the Phoenix Suns saw off the Los Angeles Clippers 114-105 and the Chicago Bulls handed the Philadelphia 76ers their 72nd defeat of the campaign, Nikola Mirotic scoring 32 points in a 115-105 win.
Kobe said the coolest part of hitting 60 was that his kids were here and got a glimpse of what kind of player he used to be.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 14, 2016
