National Basketball Association

The big night arrives: Warriors go for 73, and Kobe departs

Published Apr. 13, 2016 7:17 p.m. ET

foxsports

The big night has arrived. Golden State going for 73 wins, and Kobe Bryant going into retirement.

The 170th and final day of this NBA regular season will be loaded with intrigue, maybe an unprecedented amount. Golden State plays host to Memphis later Wednesday night, and a win would give the Warriors outright possession of the best record in league history.

Golden State takes a 72-9 record into the finale. At worst, the Warriors will match Chicago's record of 72-10 set in the 1995-96 season.

Meanwhile, Bryant's final game of his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers is also generating an enormous about of attention. Bryant will retire as the NBA's No. 3 all-time scorer, his finale coming when the Lakers play host to the Utah Jazz later Wednesday.