Jimmy Butler cheekily responded to a reporter’s remark about the veteran star’s aging status.
Meanwhile, James Harden scored in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit en route to a 121-117 win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday AEDT.
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After scoring 32 points in 32 minutes in the Golden State Warriors’ 13-point win over the Knicks on Friday, Butler, 36, refuted any suggestions that he was an “older” player despite being in his 15th season.
A reporter, seeking to ask about Butler’s preparation for games, remarked: “Usually as players get older, they become less athletic. »
Butler replied, “I’m not old, first of all.”
The reporter said: “You are not old, but you are older than when you came to the league.”
Butler, smirking, cheered: “Yeah, no shit. You’re older than yesterday.”
In 37 games this season, Butler is averaging 20.1 points on 51.9% shooting from the field, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
AROUND THE ASSOCIATION
Harden scored 31 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter and overtime, as the Clippers pushed their winning streak to five games despite missing star Kawhi Leonard due to a sprained right ankle.
The Clippers trailed by 11 early in the fourth quarter, but Harden made two free throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to the extra session.
Harden made four free throws to open overtime as the Clippers pulled away, scoring eight of their 12 points in the decisive overtime.
Scottie Barnes scored 24 points to lead seven Raptors players in scoring in double figures.
With their 12th victory in 14 games, the Clippers climb to 10th place in the Western Conference, propelling themselves into the post-season after a disastrous start to the season.
Evan Mobley made the game-winning dunk with 4.8 seconds left as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the 76ers 117-115 in Philadelphia.
Three days after being eliminated by the Cavs, the 76ers failed to turn things around despite taking an 11-point lead with 8:47 to play.
Cleveland forward Jaylon Tyson, making a rare start with Darius Garland and Sam Merrill sidelined due to injury, led all scorers with a career-high 39 points and fed Mobley for the game-winning goal.
Mobley scored 15 and Donovan Mitchell scored 13 points with nine rebounds and 12 assists.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 33 points. Tyrese Maxey added 22 but missed a desperation half-court heave at the buzzer.
In Brooklyn, the Nets squandered a 20-point fourth-quarter lead before rolling to a 112-109 victory over Chicago that ended their five-game losing streak.
The Bulls, trailing 92-72 with 11:20 remaining, took a 109-108 lead on Tre Jones’ fast-break layup with 11.4 seconds left.
Michael Porter Jr. responded with a layup that put the Nets back on top and Noah Clowney hit a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
Porter led the Nets with 26 points and Clowney had 23 points and 11 rebounds. Center Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 19 points.
“That’s how a losing team becomes a winning team, learning how to win games like this,” Porter said.
“We’re growing, we’re getting better, so it’s great.”
