Curry scores 32 as Warriors dump Nuggets

[January 09, 2018]  Stephen Curry contributed 32 points and nine assists and the Golden State Warriors exacted a measure of revenge against the Denver Nuggets with a 124-114 victory on Monday in Oakland, Calif.

Draymond Green had 23 points and 10 assists and Klay Thompson scored 19 points as Golden State won its fifth straight game and improved its NBA-best record to 33-8. The Warriors shot 56.5 percent from the field despite being without forward Kevin Durant for the third straight game due to a calf injury.

Golden State endured its worst offensive showing of the season on Dec. 23 against the Nuggets when it lost 96-81 and shot 38.1 percent from the field, including a 3-of-27 showing from 3-point range.

Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 12 rebounds and a season-high 11 assists for his first triple-double of the season for the Nuggets. Gary Harris finished with 22 points and Trey Lyles and Jamal Murray added 21 points apiece for Denver, which lost for the fourth time in the last six contests.

Denver tied the score at 69 on a dunk by Mason Plumlee with 6:57 left in the third quarter before Golden State used an 11-2 burst to take a nine-point lead. Curry knocked down a 3-pointer for a 14-point advantage with just under a minute remaining and the Warriors ended up taking a 93-81 lead into the fourth quarter.

Shaun Livingston's basket increased Golden State's lead to 110-92 with 7:48 remaining. The Nuggets pulled within six points with 1:26 remaining before Green scored on a layup and added two free throws to push the margin back to 10 as the Warriors closed it out.

 

Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fouls Denver Nuggets forward Trey Lyles (7) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Curry and Green each had 13 first-half points as the Warriors took a 64-57 halftime lead.

Golden State's offense clicked from the outset and Thompson's basket provided a 24-14 advantage just 5:03 into the contest. Thompson had nine in the quarter as the Warriors opened up a 37-28 lead.

Livingston's basket early in the second quarter gave Golden State a 13-point edge, and the margin was again 13 when Thompson drained a 3-pointer to make it 52-39 with 5:15 remaining in the half. Denver closed strong to trail by seven at the break.

--Field Level Media

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