Curry gets ‘T’, then heats up for Warriors
NBA champion Bucks have won seven games in a row
LOS ANGELES — Stephen Curry is among the most dangerous players in the NBA. But an angry Curry proved to be more lethal.
The Golden State star took out his frustrations Sunday afternoon on the Los Angeles Clippers after being called for a technical foul with 9:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. He scored 11 of his 33 points after that as the Warriors extended their winning streak to eight with a 105-90 victory.
“It was just an accumulation of all types of weird stuff. All that led into where I thought I got a foul,” said Curry, who also had a season-high six steals to go with five rebounds and six assists. “It definitely fired me and the team up. After that it was time to direct my energy into putting the ball in the basket.”
Curry lost his temper when he didn’t draw a foul while driving to the basket after it appeared Clippers guard Terance Mann made contact. Coach Steve Kerr said he figured Curry was going to get a technical when he saw him go toward the official and pump his fist.
Golden State had a 79-70 lead when Curry’s outburst happened, but they would put it away afterward with a 21-7 run during a nearly five-minute span. Curry made three 3-pointers during the spurt, and applied the dagger shot with an off-balance triple from the right corner with 5:20 remaining.
The Warriors improved their NBA-best record to 18-2 heading into a showdown Tuesday night in Phoenix against the streaking Suns who have won 16 straight.
LAKERS 110, PISTONS 106: In Los Angeles, LeBron James had 33 points, nine assists and no confrontations with Isaiah Stewart in the Lakers’ victory.
Russell Westbrook had 25 points and nine assists, and Anthony Davis added 24 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Stewart was booed repeatedly and zealously by the Lakers’ crowd, but he appeared to have no significant interactions with James after both players were ejected from the teams’ meeting in Detroit a week earlier for an ugly altercation.
BUCKS 118, PACERS 100: In Indianapolis, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and 13 rebounds and Milwaukee extended its winning streak to seven.
The Bucks led by five at halftime and pulled away with a 39-27 third quarter. Guard Jrue Holiday scored 11 of his 23 points in the quarter.
GRIZZLIES 128, KINGS 101: In Memphis, Tenn., Dillon Brooks scored 21 points, Desmond Bane added 18 and Memphis took advantage of Sacramento’s poor shooting.
Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17 points and nine rebounds to help Memphis snap a two-game losing streak.
Memphis was playing its first game without scoring leader Ja Morant, who sprained his left knee Friday in a loss to Atlanta.
CELTICS 109, RAPTORS 97: In Toronto, Marcus Smart scored 21 points, Al Horford had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Boston beat short-handed Toronto.
Josh Richardson scored 18 of Boston’s 32 bench points. Jaylen Brown added 16 points.
Fred VanVleet led Toronto with 27 points, Scottie Barnes had 21 and Pascal Siakam 18. The Raptors lost for the sixth time in eight games.