Curry comes back in style
Stephen Curry made a sensational return from injury by scoring 38 points with a season-high 10 3-pointers, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 141-128, last night in Oakland, Calif.
Curry shot 13-for-17 and 10of-13 from deep in 26 minutes for his ninth 30-point game this season after missing 11 games with a sprained right ankle. His mere presence brought an energy to the Warriors and all of Oracle Arena, and he spent much of the fourth quarter pacing, gesturing in delight while cheering his teammates with a towel draped over his head.
Kevin Durant added 20 points, nine assists and five rebounds, and Klay Thompson scored 21.
Marc Gasol led six Memphis players in double figures with 27 points.
Jazz 104, Cavaliers 101 — In Salt Lake City, Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points, and Utah handed LeBron James and Cleveland its third straight defeat.
James had 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists on his 33rd birthday as Cleveland lost at Utah for the sixth straight time. The Cavs’ three-game losing streak is their second this season.
Mitchell blew by J.R. Smith and finished a layup in traffic over James with 35 seconds remaining to give the Jazz a 100-97 lead. James then missed a layup, and Utah finished off the game from the free-throw line.
Knicks 105, Pelicans 103 — Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points, Jarrett Jack made two free throws to break a tie with 9 seconds remaining and visiting New York neutralized New Orleans.
Jack finished with 15 points, and Michael Beasley scored 15 off the bench for the Knicks, who snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak.
Heat 117, Magic 111 — Tyler Johnson scored 22 points in the third quarter and Goran Dragic had 14 in the fourth to help visiting Miami overcome an 18-point deficit and beat Orlando.
Johnson finished with a season-high 31 points, and Dragic had 25 points and eight assists.
Pistons 93, Spurs 79 — Andre Drummond had 14 points and 21 rebounds, and host Detroit held San Antonio to its lowest point total of the season.
The Pistons played without starting guards Reggie Jackson (right ankle sprain) and Avery Bradley (sore right groin).
Sixers 107, Nuggets 102 — Dario Saric had 20 points and nine rebounds and keyed a second-half run to lead visiting Philadelphia over Denver.
JJ Redick had 18 points, Robert Covington had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Jarrod Bayless scored 14 points for the 76ers.
Hawks 104, Trail Blazers 89 — Dennis Schroder scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half, Marco Belinelli added 14 points and host Atlanta vanquished Portland.