Curry leads Warriors to 8th straight win
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 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.
Curry lost his temper when he didn’t a draw a foul while driving to the basket after it appeared Clippers guard Terance Mann made contact. Warriors 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 offbalance triple from the right corner with 5:20 remaining.
Otto Porter Jr. added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Poole scored 17 points for the Warriors. They improved their NBAbest record to 18-2 heading into a showdown Tuesday night in Phoenix against the streaking Suns — 17-3 after winning 16 straight.
Paul George led Los Angeles with 30 points, and Eric Bledsoe and Marcus Morris added 13 apiece. The Clippers came into the game with wins in eight of their last 10 home games.
BUCKS 118, PACERS 100
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and 13 rebounds and Milwaukee beat host Indiana for its seventh straight victory.
Jrue Holiday scored 11 of his 23 points in the third quarter. Bobby Portis added 15 points, and Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton each had 14.
Caris LeVert led the Pacers with a season-high 23 points.
CELTICS 109, RAPTORS 97
Marcus Smart scored 21 points, Al Horford had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Boston beat host Toronto to snap a two-game losing streak.
Josh Richardson scored 18 of Boston’s 32 bench points. Jaylen Brown added 16 points, and Grant Williams had 15 to help the Celtics improve to 11-10.
Fred VanVleet led Toronto with 27 points.
GRIZZLIES 128, KINGS 101
Dillon Brooks scored 21 points, Desmond Bane added 18 and host Memphis took advantage of Sacramento’s poor shooting. Memphis was playing its first game without scoring leader Ja Morant. He sprained his left knee Friday night in a loss to Atlanta.
Buddy Hield led the Kings with 14 points.
LAKERS 110, PISTONS 106
In Los Angeles, LeBron James led all scorers with 33 points in the first meeting since James was suspended one game Nov. 22 for elbowing center Isaiah Stewart. Russell Westbrook added 25 points. Jerami Grant led Detroit with 32 points.