Curry scores 41 as Warriors extend record win streak.
Warriors go to 17-0 in a rout, set 3-point records along way
PHOENIX — So much for the theory that the Warriors might suffer a letdown after having already notched the best start in NBA history.
The Warriors shot their way into the record books again, setting the league mark for the most 3-pointers in a half with 15 and the franchise record with 22 for the game on their way to a 135-116 win against the Phoenix Suns on Friday that improved Golden State’s record to 17-0.
“They start blending together after a while,” Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said of the 3-pointers when informed of the records.
“We’ve come to expect great
things from our guys.”
Showing off their firepower, the Warriors were 15 for 20 from 3-point range in the first half and finished with a season high in points scored. Stephen Curry held his follow-through after his shot gave the Warriors the league’s 3-point record before halftime. He finished 9 for 16 overall from long distance, including a 4-point play.
Curry needed only three quarters to rack up 41 points, eight assists and six rebounds. His nine 3-pointers were the most by any NBA player this season.
“We shoot a lot of threes, but we like to shoot a lot of good ones,” said Curry, whose team shot a season-high 57.9 percent from beyond the arc. “And if we shoot a lot of good ones, we hopefully have a good percentage because ball movement leads to inrhythm shots.
“We have an edge. We love the feeling of winning, and our confidence is high right now.”
Leandro Barbosa added 21 points, as the former Suns player was 5-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc and 8 for 9 from the field. Draymond Green finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
“We’ve got so many options, so many weapons,” Barbosa said. “Tonight was one of those nights that Steph was really hot, and when he’s hot, he makes things happen. We were just enjoying watching him play. I was having fun, too.”
With the 3-point line transformed into a layup line, the Suns stood little chance of pulling off the upset from the very start. The Warriors scored 44 points in the first quarter for their highest-scoring quarter of their season. They had a 75point first half and led in the game by as many as 26.
“I’m always looking for ’em, me personally,” point guard Shaun Livingston said of setting up 3-point shooters. “Once they’re hot, you try to get guys going. We play off of those guys.”
Said Suns coach Jeff Hornacek: “You’ve got to give them credit. They still got to put it in the hole, but our defense wasn’t there putting any pressure on them.”
The Warriors lost Harrison Barnes to a sprained left ankle in the third period that forced him to helped off the floor. X-rays were negative.
“It was kind of a bittersweet victory with one of our teammates going down,” Livingston said.
Walton was pleased the Warriors won again but wasn’t happy with one particular season high, as they committed 24 turnovers.
“We’re continuing to try to improve as a team for the playoffs,” Walton said. “It’s not about how many regular-season games we win.”
Still, Hornacek stated his belief the Warriors could be the team that breaks the Chicago Bulls’ 72-win single-season record.
“The way they’re playing now, yeah,” said Hornacek, who played against the 1995-96 Bulls while with the Utah Jazz. “It’s a long season. One injury could make a big difference. They’ve been healthy last year.
“If they stay healthy, yeah they got a great chance of breaking that record.”
The Warriors have improved to 100-20 including the playoffs in the Steve Kerr era.
“That’s pretty good,” Walton said, smiling. “We have really good players, really good talent.”