Curry sits out Warriors’ victory
Reigning NBA most valuable player Stephen Curry sat out the host Golden State Warriors’ 115- 106 victory Monday against the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their first- round series because of a sprained right ankle.
Klay Thompson scored 34 points to pace the Warriors, who lead the series 2- 0. James Harden led the Rockets with 28 points and 11 assists.
Curry cut short his pregame routine after appearing to be in discomfort dealing with the ankle. He began his extensive warmup routine before leaving the court about five minutes later.
How he felt before the game was to determine whether he played. He didn’t take part in the morning shootaround earlier in the day or in practice Sunday after getting hurt late in the first half of the Warriors’ victory Saturday in Game 1.
Raptors 98, Pacers 87
Jonas Valanciunas scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Kyle Lowry had 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and the Toronto Raptors ended their playoff losing streak at seven games by defeating the visiting Indiana Pacers to even their first- round series at 1- 1.
Corey Joseph added 16 points, Patrick Patterson 14 and DeMar DeRozan 10 for the Raptors, who hadn’t won a playoff game in nearly two years. Paul George scored 28 points for the Pacers, who will host Game 3 on Thursday.
Mavericks 85, Thunder 84
A putback at the buzzer by Steven Adams that would have won the game was disallowed on review, and the Dallas Mavericks edged the host Oklahoma City Thunder to level their first- round series at 1- 1. Game 3 is set for Thursday in Dallas.
Raymond Felton led the Mavericks with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Kevin Durant had 21 points and nine rebounds and Russell Westbrook 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Thunder, but Durant shot 7- for- 33 and Westbrook 8- for- 22.
News and notes
San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard ( 84 first- place votes, 547 points) was voted the Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Warriors forward Draymond Green ( 44, 421) was second and Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside ( two, 83) third.
◆ The NBA fined Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy $ 25,000 for criticizing the officiating in a live TV interview during the team’s loss Sunday to the Cleveland Cavaliers.