Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, right, and Draymond Green, celebrate the win after an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Sunday, April 10, 2016, in San Antonio. Golden State won 92-86. AP PHOTO
LOS ANGELES—Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry says the team is determined to forge their place in NBA history by clinching a record-breaking 73rd regular season victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Curry and the Warriors stand on the threshold of immortality after a superb 92-86 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday which saw them equal the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls’ longstanding mark of 72 wins.
READ: Warriors equal record with 72nd win, end Spurs’ home streak
Curry said the Warriors are now determined to finish the job in Oakland against Memphis by claiming win number 73 — even if the priority remains a successful defense of their NBA crown.
“We are in the moment and enjoying the ride, but the goal is to win a championship,” Curry said.
“We’ve put ourselves in a great position to do something no other team has ever done.
“It’s hard to step out of the locker room and understand the hoopla that comes with chasing the record. We want to go out and take advantage of an opportunity that may never come again.”
‘It’s crazy’
Warriors coach Steve Kerr — a member of the iconic Michael Jordan-era Bulls team 20 years ago — admitted he was still struggling to come to terms with the achievement.
“It’s crazy. It just feels like a right-place-right-time type thing to be part of two teams that have performed like this and won at this level for the entire season,” Kerr told USA Today.
“I’m pretty lucky, really, just to play next to Michael and Scottie and Dennis (Rodman) and play for Phil (Jackson) and come here and inherit this whole group, Steph (Curry) and Klay (Thompson) and Draymond (Green) and Andre (Iguodala), and everybody else, as my first coaching job. A pretty good draw.”
Members of the revered Bulls team meanwhile are willing on the Warriors to set a new record.
Former Bulls coach Phil Jackson led the plaudits.
“Way-to-Go!! Congrats to GSt Warriors,SKerr&LWalton et al. The journey to 72 wins is a remarkable achievement-very impressive-now get #73,” Jackson wrote on Twitter.
Former Bulls guard Ron Harper — who earlier this season trash-talked the Warriors by claiming the 1995-1996 Bulls would easily beat them — also piled on the praise.
“Congrats to @GSWarriors_ & Steve Kerr Steph curry and crew go for 72 win and get 73 on weds,” Harper wrote on Twitter.
Bulls legend Scottie Pippen — who only two weeks ago predicted the 1996 Bulls would sweep the Warriors in a seven-game series — also applauded Golden State.
“Giving credit where credit is due,” Pippen wrote on Twitter. “Congrats to @SteveKerr and his @warriors on win no.72.
“.@StephenCurry30 showed why he’s the MVP. As cold-blooded shooter as I’ve ever seen and a basketball IQ that is off the charts.”
Warriors star Draymond Green meanwhile has revealed that NBA icon Jordan had also offered support during the All-Star weekend earlier this year.
“Mike told me at All-Star, ‘Go win the record. Go get the record. If y’all don’t win this record, I’m going to be hot and I’m blaming you’,” Green said.