Curry too strong for Dallas
Point guard delivers in clutch as Warriors record overtime win
DALLAS — Point guard Stephen Curry refused to let the Warriors lose.
He tweaked his troublesome right ankle. He had Dallas throwing the kitchen sink at him. He had Mavericks guard O. J. Mayo trying to one- up him.
Monday night, however, Curry would not be denied. He finished with 31 points, nine assists and six rebounds, leading the Warriors to a 105- 101 overtime win over the Mavericks.
Curry totaled 20 points and four assists in the fourth quarter and overtime.
“He was our leader,” coach Mark Jackson said. “He is our leader. But tonight, I really believe he took it to a whole differ-
ent level.”
Golden State ( 6- 5) finished the trip 2- 1 ( beating Minnesota on Friday and losing at Oklahoma City on Sunday). The Warriors now head into a stretch where they play five of their next six at home. They do so coming off an emotional and collective road victory.
Golden State dominated the boards 62- 43 and held the Mavericks to 43 percent shooting. Most important, the Warriors made winning plays down the stretch. No one more than Curry.
He scored 14 of the Warriors’ final 18 points in regulation to force overtime. Then, in the extra fi ve minutes, he scored six points and dished three assists. He even grabbed the rebound on the game- clinching defensive possession.
Oddly enough, it seemed to be the tweaking of his right ankle that ignited Curry, who managed 11 points on 4- of- 11 shooting in the first half.
With 8: 07 left in the fourth quarter, and Golden State down 78- 73, Curry drove to the basket and drew a foul but landed on the foot of Mavericks big man Bernard James.
Curry stayed down for a minute, sporting a pleasenotnow look on his face. When he got up, he limped noticeably. He made the two free throws, then came up with a steal and a fastbreak layup, cutting Dallas’ lead to 78- 77 and forcing a timeout.
As he walked to the huddle, he was still limping and grimacing.
“I pretty much have a 10pound ankle with the brace and the tape, so it helped,” said Curry, his right food soaking in ice as usual after games. “It was something you just had to play through.”
Added Jackson: “I didn’t see it, but I think that something on the inside told him he had to muster it.”
Coming out of the timeout, Curry seemed to have extra energy. He was outwardly pumped, constantly clapping and screaming, and had a motivated pace to his play.
The Warriors led 81- 80 with just over six minutes left in regulation after a Curry jumper. Then Mayo, who had 18 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, got going. He scored the next seven points for Dallas, trading with Curry.
Mayo’s 3- pointer with 4: 01 left put the Mavericks ahead 87- 84. Curry answered with four straight points, including a jumper that put Golden State ahead by a point.
Golden State had a chance to win it in the final seconds. With the score tied at 90, rookie small forward Harrison Barnes’ secured an offensive rebound with 20.8 seconds left and found a wide- open Klay Thompson. Opting not to hold for the last possession, Thompson fired the 3- pointer and missed. He was 2 of 14 shooting Monday.
Fortunately for the Warriors, Dallas guard Vince Carter’s game- winning fadeaway attempt didn’t drop, forcing overtime.
Curry led a 7- 0 run to start overtime. After a runner, he found rookie center Festus Ezeli for a dunk then Barnes ( 20 points, 12 rebounds) for a 3- pointer. The Warriors led 97- 90 with 3: 41 left in overtime.
Dallas answered with Mayo. He ran off a 7- 0 run on his own: a 3- pointer and consecutive layups to tie the game at 97. After two free throws by Curry, Mayo tied the game again, at 99, with another jumper with 41.7 seconds left.
But Curry answered by driving the lane again. This time, he slipped a pass to forward David Lee for a layup. Lee finished with 17 points and 19 rebounds.
The Warriors got the critical stop they needed, as Thompson forced Mayo to give up the ball to Shawn Marion in the corner. Marion’s air ball landed in the hands of Curry, who made both free throws to seal the victory.
“Coach put the ball in my hands in the fourth quarter and in overtime,” Curry said. “We thought we had a good opportunity to be aggressive, get in the paint and make plays. That’s what I was trying to do.”
Warriors swingman Richard Jefferson missed Monday’s game with a strained right calf. He has an MRI scheduled for Tuesday.