Warriors go bonkers in rout of Clippers
Celtics squander big lead, beat Bucks in overtime
OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Curry scored 25 of his 43 points in the third quarter following his first halfcourt buzzer-beater of the season to lead the Golden State Warriors to their ninth win in 10 games, 144-98 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
Curry’s 51-foot shot was the spark on a night that began with his playing status in doubt because of a sore left quad. After testing that leg in warmups, Curry was cleared to play and showed no signs of being slowed by the injury, hitting nine 3-pointers.
Kevin Durant added 23 points and Klay Thompson scored 16 to give Golden State its eighth straight win over its Southern California rival.
“What Steph has realized is he can just be himself and let it fly,” Kerr said. “He doesn’t have to worry about Kevin or anybody else. We feed off Steph’s energy and shooting.”
Said Curry: “I have to be aggressive. That’s the thing about us. We do have a lot of talent. There’s a balancing act with it.”
Blake Griffin scored 20 points for the Clippers, who have lost four of five since star point guard Chris Paul went down with a torn ligament in his left thumb.
The Warriors broke open the game with a 17-6 run over the final 2:14 of the first half. After Durant scored on a bank shot inside, Draymond Green really got it going when he blocked Griffin and then beat him back down the floor for a dunk. After another stop by Golden State, Thompson hit a 3-pointer in transition to make it 62-45.
Curry punctuated the half with his shot from just beyond halfcourt to beat the buzzer to make it 72-51. Curry dove to the floor in celebration before dancing with his teammates.
This was his first basket of the year from beyond 40 feet after making four last season. CELTICS 112, BUCKS 108 (OT): In Milwaukee, Isaiah Thomas had 37 points, and Jae Crowder scored four of his 20 points on free throws in the final 28 seconds of overtime to help Boston beat Milwaukee.
Boston won after squandering a 16-point second-half lead.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 21 points, and Greg Monroe had 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Bucks have lost three in a row.
HEAT 116, PISTONS 103: In Miami, Goran Dragic scored 23 points as Miami beat Detroit to push the NBA’s longest current winning streak to seven games.
Wayne Ellington added 19 points, James Johnson had 18 and Dion Waiters 17 for the Heat. Miami tied a season high with 14 3-pointers, with Ellington making three in less than two minutes in the final quarter. The Heat outscored Detroit 26-12 in the fourth.
Miami was 11-30 at the midway point of its season — and hasn’t lost since.
KINGS 109, HORNETS 106: In Charlotte, N.C., DeMarcus Cousins had 35 points and 18 rebounds as Sacramento handed Charlotte its fourth straight loss.
Cousins scored the go-ahead basket with 14.3 seconds left on a driving layup. The Hornets had a chance to take the lead in the closing seconds, but Frank Kaminsky shot an airball on a 3-pointer. Cousins grabbed the rebound and was fouled, making one free throw.
Darren Collison added 17 points for the Kings. TIMBERWOLVES 129, NETS 109: In Minneapolis, Karl-Anthony Towns had 37 points and 13 rebounds to lead Minnesota to a victory over Brooklyn.
Andrew Wiggins added 23 points and four assists, and Zach LaVine scored 20 points for the Timberwolves, who have won seven of their last 10 games.
GRIZZLIES 102, JAZZ 95: In Salt Lake City, Zach Randolph scored a seasonhigh 28 points and Marc Gasol added 18 as Memphis beat Utah.
Randolph bullied defenders in the post throughout the night and Gasol worked the Utah defense inside and out, routinely hitting turnaround fade-away jumpers and going 4-of-5 on 3-point shots. NUGGETS 123, SUNS 112: In Phoenix, Danilo Gallinari scored 32 points as Denver, which has won three straight games, beat Phoenix for the second time in three nights.
Eric Bledsoe scored a career-high 41 for the Suns. Phoenix’s Devin Booker added 23.