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 The Warriors, the NBA's last remaining unbeaten team for the second
year in a row, moved within one of their franchise record for
consecutive season-opening wins, set in 1960-61 while the club was
playing in Philadelphia.
Golden State have won their eight games by a total of 142 points, an
average of 17.8.
The marquee matchup of Warriors guard Stephen Curry, the NBA's
leading scorer, and Pistons center Andre Drummond, the league's top
rebounder, never really materialized.
Curry had 22 points, but he hit only seven of 18 shots in falling 12
points shy of his season average.
Drummond, meanwhile, was hounded by Golden State big men Festus
Ezeli and Andrew Bogut all night. He was limited to 14 points and 15
rebounds in 35 minutes after terrorizing the Portland Trail Blazers
for 29 points and 27 rebounds in a Pistons win Sunday night.
The Warriors led just 80-76 before reserve forward Andre Iguodala
got Golden State's fourth-quarter flurry going with a dunk.
Barnes followed with a three-pointer before Barbosa contributed a
driving hoop and a 3-pointer of his own to cap a 12-2 burst that
opened a 92-78 lead.
Drummond, who had been out of the lineup to start the fourth period,
returned to convert a spike tip.
However, Barbosa hit again from outside, Warriors shooting guard
Klay Thompson dropped in a 15-footer, and Barnes converted a fast
break, opening a 98-82 advantage from which the Pistons never
recovered.
Thompson led the Warriors with 24 points, hitting 10 of his 17 shots
and four of seven from 3-point range.
Ezeli (eight points and two rebounds) and Bogut (eight and nine)
combined for 16 points and 11 rebounds, nearly offsetting Drummond's
double-double.
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Bogut was playing his first game since sustaining a concussion in
the Warriors' opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 27.
Point guard Reggie Jackson and backup forward Stanley Johnson scored
20 points apiece for the Pistons, who lost their ninth straight to
Golden State.
Detroit (5-2) absorbed its first road loss in four outings despite
shooting 47.1 percent. Golden State shot 47.3 percent.
The Pistons had won at Phoenix and Portland to open six-game Western
swing.
The Warriors led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter but
had trouble creating separation from the Pistons. Detroit hit on
54.3 percent of its shots in the second and third periods.
Golden State did run out to a 68-51 lead in the fifth minute of the
third quarter, but the Pistons shot their way back into the game.
Johnson, forward Marcus Morris (15 points) and guard Kentavious
Caldwell-Pope (15 points) bombed in three-pointers as the Pistons
rallied within 80-76 by quarter's end.
(Compiled by Peter Rutherford)
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