Stephen Curry shines, receives “MVP” chants as Golden State puts on a show for the L.A. crowds.
A night after letting a game slip away to the Detroit Pistons, the Golden State Warriors bounced back, with style, blowing out the Los Angeles Clippers 141-113 to complete their second back-to-back of the season.
Turnovers were the main problem last night (26), but tonight they were able to tighten up, only allowing 12.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry was the star of the night, with 31 points, a season-high seven made 3-point shots, five rebounds and six assists.
In an interesting move, Curry and Kevin Durant played the entirety of the first quarter, sitting for the first half of the second. This revealed, again, a stark contrast — with the second unit barely treading water and scoring just 14 points in six minutes. When Curry and Durant subbed back in, the team scored 27 in the next six.
It became an offensive showcase that broke open the lead and was capped off by a fancy Curry layup that had no business, and every business, going in as he spun away under the basket.
Curry, Durant, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Jordan Bell proved to be a dynamic combination, with Bell getting a chance to showcase his many talents, racking up a dunk, a layup, a steal and an assist early in the game.
It also didn’t hurt that the Warriors limited themselves to just four turnovers in the first half — only one in the second quarter alone — as they took it to halftime with a 74-57 lead.
The second half started off with a bizarre pair of Zaza Pachulia offensive fouls, a quick third call on Curry, and an errant ball thrown to the scorers table by Green. Four quick turnovers in the first three minutes. But it leveled out again.
There was also Curry, who went for 15 points on the quarter. He had four 3-point shots, including a buzzer-beater, in true Steph fashion. All of this prompted an honest-to-goodness “Warriors” chant and eventually an “MVP” chant for Curry at Staples Center. (Followed by hearty boos from Clippers fans.) We’ve truly seen it all.
They sailed into the final quarter with a 21-point lead.
The fourth quarter started off much the same, and included an early 3-point shot from Green; much to his delight, as he has been struggling from downtown so far this season.
If McGee’s 3-point attempt late in the quarter had gone in, you guys might have had to resuscitate me.
Ahh, that felt good. Though the rivalry might not be legitimate anymore, it always feels good to hand the Clippers a nearly 30-point loss.