Curry, Warriors hold off Celtics
OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Curry scored 49 points with 13 of those over the final 1:42 and hit eight 3-pointers, lifting the Golden State Warriors past the Boston Celtics 109-105 on Saturday night in what is already being hyped as a potential NBA Finals matchup come June.
Curry made a goahead 3 with 1:42 to play, scored on a driving layup the next time down before eight late free throws. He also made three of his 3s over the final 4:20 of the third quarter for the Warriors, who had lost the last two matchups to the Celtics and two in a row at home. The Warriors fell 92-88 at Boston on Nov. 16 in which they squandered a 17-point lead.
Kyrie Irving scored 37 points on 13-for-18 shooting with five 3s, but Boston failed to build momentum from a win at the Clippers on Wednesday night, losing for the fifth time in six games.
Kevin Durant added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors, who haven’t lost to the same Eastern Conference opponent twice in the same season during fourth-year coach Steve Kerr’s tenure. Draymond Green had 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
THUNDER 121, PISTONS 108: Carmelo Anthony surpassed the 25,000-point milestone and Russell Westbrook added 31 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to lift Oklahoma City past Detroit on the road. Thunder guard Andre Roberson was taken off on a stretcher in the third quarter after landing hard on the court after trying to jump for an alley-oop. Thunder coach Billy Donovan said it’s a patellar tendon injury, and the team would find out more after returning to Oklahoma. Anthony scored his 25,000th point on a free throw with 8:30 left in the third quarter.
PACERS 114, MAGIC 112: Victor Oladipo scored 24 points, Lance Stephenson added a season-high 21 and Indiana overcome a late 10-point deficit to beat Orlando at home. WIZARDS 129, HAWKS 104: Markieff Morris matched his season high with 23 points and Washington used balanced scoring and strong 3-point shooting to overcome the absence of John Wall in the Wizards’ road victory over Atlanta. GRIZZLIES’ CONLEY DONE FOR SEASON: The Memphis Grizzlies said guard Mike Conley will have season-ending surgery to smooth a bone in his left heel and is expected to return for next season’s training camp.
PELICANS’ COUSINS TEARS ACHILLES: An MRI late Friday confirmed that New Orleans center DeMarcus Cousins suffered a torn left Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season. The injury occurred with 12 seconds remaining in the Pelicans’ 115-113 win over the Houston Rockets. Cousins missed a free throw and while attempting to recover the rebound landed awkwardly on his left foot. Cousins tried to get up, then went back down on his back and placed both hands on his head. He couldn’t put weight on his left leg and had to be helped off the court. Oklahoma City’s Paul George will replace Cousins on Team LeBron for the AllStar Game on Feb. 18.