Warriors start fast in win over Knicks
NEW YORK — A much better start for Stephen Curry led to one of the best in the NBA this season for the Golden State Warriors.
Curry had 31 points and 11 rebounds, bouncing back from a scoreless first half in his last game with a double-double by the midpoint of this one, and the Warriors beat the New York Knicks 110-99 on Thursday night.
The Warriors raced to a 14-0 lead and never trailed, though they were never in control for very long. Only the Brooklyn Nets, who scored the first 16 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in an eventual loss on Jan. 21, had a more dominant start to a game this season.
Curry was 0-for-7 in the first half of a victory in Washington on Tuesday, the first time he's been scoreless through two quarters since Nov. 23, 2012. This time he had a 3-pointer to open the scoring and had 17 points and 10 rebounds by the break, the second time in his career he's had a double-double in the first half.
“Every night's different, but it didn't hurt that in the Garden I had a good vibe and a good flow going,” Curry said.
Jonathan Kuminga added 25 points for the Warriors, who extended their road winning streak to seven games, their longest since winning 11 in a row in the 2018-19 season. They won for the 10th time in 12 games overall.
Curry finished with eight 3-pointers, while Klay Thompson added 16 points. Chris Paul had 11 points and six assists in his second game back after missing 21 with a broken left hand.
Porter steps up in Nuggets’ victory
Michael Porter Jr. had 30 points to help pick up the scoring load after
Jamal Murray left because of a sprained ankle, and host Nuggets staved off Miami's fourth-quarter rally to beat the Heat 103-97 on Thursday night.
Porter was 12-of-23 shooting from the floor, including four 3-pointers, and had 11 rebounds to help the Nuggets improve to 5-0 since the All-star break.
Murray left just before halftime after he sprained his right ankle when he landed on Aaron Gordon's leg after a drive to the basket.
Murray has dealt with right hamstring and ankle ailments this season, along with shin splints. He finished with six points.
Milwaukee rolls to rout of Hornets
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the visiting Bucks swept the fourgame season series with Charlotte, beating the Hornets 111-99 on Thursday night.
Malik Beasley added 19 points — hitting five 3pointers — and Bobby Portis had 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Bucks shot 16-of-39 from beyond the arc to give coach Doc Rivers his first four-game winning streak with the team.
The Bucks thrashed the Hornets by an average of 29.2 points this season — the largest margin in team history.
Booker’s 35 lead Suns over Rockets
Devin Booker scored 35 points and Kevin Durant added 24 as host Phoenix held off Houston 110-105 on Thursday night to open a two-game series. The teams will meet again in Phoenix on Saturday night.
Booker scored 20 points in the first quarter to help give the Suns an 18-point lead they would never relinquish. He has scored at least 20 points in an Nba-high six quarters this season.