Category: Golden State Warriors

Warriors beat Blazers 111-104 for seventh straight win

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Photo credit: @mercnews

By: Ana Kieu

OAKLAND, Calif. — It wasn’t easy, but the Golden State Warriors ended up defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 111-104 at Oracle Arena Monday night.

The Warriors entered the matchup vs. the Trail Blazers in second place of the Western Conference, trailing the first-place Houston Rockets. Meanwhile, the Blazers were in sixth place in the conference.

After playing their last four games in their red “statement” jerseys, the Blazers sported their black “icon” jerseys tonight. The Blazers were just fine early in the game as they scored four consecutive points–all from Evan Turner’s dunks, but the Blazers barely outscored the Dubs by one point (28-27) at the end of the first quarter.

However, the Dubs went on a 10-2 run to grab a 39-32 lead with 7:48 left in the first half. Still, the Blazers said it was really difficult to stop Damian Lillard, a Oakland, Calif., native. Lillard led all scorers with 19 points at the half.

Despite the Lillard show, the Dubs led the Blazers 60-47 at the half.

The Blazers got off to a great start as they shot 100% from the free-throw line for a bit and even went on a 17-4 run to cut the deficit to 11, but the Dubs started cooking in the kitchen late in the third quarter. The Dubs led the Blazers 93-75 at the end of the third quarter.

The Dubs also received some bad news as Nick Young left the game with the concussion and didn’t return.

Klay Thompson did his thing, and Kevin Durant (19,712 points) passed John Stockton (19,711 points) for 44th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Thompson also closed out the game with a couple of three-pointers, and the Dubs beat the Blazers 111-104 at home.

The Dubs’ final stats are embedded below.

Notes
Warriors’ injury report: Draymond Green (right shoulder soreness) is probable. Patrick McCaw (nose contusion/concussion) is questionable. Zaza Pachulia (left shoulder soreness) is doubtful. Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle) is out.

Blazers’ injury update: Maurice Harkless (left quad) downgraded to OUT for tonight’s game. Jusuf Nurkić (right ankle) is also out.

Up Next
The Dubs host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, December 14 at 7:30 pm PST.

The Blazers embark on a four-game road trip. The first game will be at American Airlines Center vs. the Miami Heat on Wednesday, December 13 at 7:30 pm EST.

Warriors beat Pistons 102-98 to finish perfect road trip

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Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) takes a shot against Detroit Pistons forward Anthony Tolliver (43) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

by Jerry Feitelberg

For the first time in team history, the Golden State Warriors won all six road games after defeating the Detroit Pistons 102-98. The Warriors were without the services of Steph Curry, Zaza Pachulia, and Patrick McCaw. Head coach Steve Kerr inserted JaVale McGee in for Pachulia, and Shaun Livingston started in place of Curry.

Quinn Cook, who had started at point guard, was relegated to the bench, but he played well when Kerr put him into the game.

The Warriors were trying to avenge a loss to the Pistons when the two teams met in Oakland earlier this season. The last time they met, the Dubs committed 26 turnovers, and they were not in sync that night. The Dubs were determined to not let that happen. They were also committed to shutting down the Pistons’ offense. The Dubs did just that as the had a season-high 15 blocks. Both teams played defense Friday night at the Little Caesars Arena in Motown, but the Dubs were just a little better.

The Warriors lead in the first quarter 30-24. They held the Pistons to just 31% from the floor. The Pistons were making three-point shots, and the Dubs were shooting bricks from a three-point range. The Pistons held the Dubs to 16 points in the second quarter and scored 24 to lead 50-46 at the end of the first half.

The Dubs shot 48.6% from the floor but made just one three-pointer in 13 attempts. The Pistons shot 38.8% from the floor but connected on seven three-point shots in 14 attempts. The Dubs committed just five turnovers in the first half and knew they would have to make adjustments if they were to beat the Pistons. Kevin Durant was the only Warrior in double figures with 14. Thompson and West were next with six each.

Whatever Kerr and the coaches told the Warriors at the halftime break must have worked as the team outscored the Pistons 31-17 and finished the period with a 10 point lead (77-67).

The Dubs, behind Thompson and Durant, continued to keep the Pistons at bay. They increased the lead to 12 (81-69), but Detroit would not fold.

The Pistons closed the gap to three (87-84), but Thompson and Durant made two key buckets to up the lead to seven.

The Dubs were ahead 100-93 when Detroit cut the lead to two (100-98) with 22.7 seconds left in the game. The Pistons went for the tie, but they missed a layup and Thompson got the rebound and was fouled. He nailed both free throws with just 5.3 seconds left. Detroit failed to score, and the Warriors picked up the win.

Game notes and stats — Kevin Durant had a double-double Friday night. He knocked down 36 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and blocked five shots. Klay Thompson added 22, David West 11 and Shaun Livingstone 10. Draymond Green tallied just two points on offense, recorded 13 assists, and was basically a monster on defense. Green had six rebounds and led the club with six blocked shots.

Quinn Cook, coming off the bench, scored seven and he made a three-point shot as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter.

Leading scorers for the Pistons were former Boston Celtic, Avery Bradley, with 25, Reggie Jackson 16, Tobias Harris 11, Anthony Tolliver 10, and the seven-foot-three big man Boban Marjanovic from Serbia also had 10. Pistons star center, Andre Drummond, was held to eight points, but he recorded 17 rebounds in a losing effort.

The Warriors improve to 21-6 and Detroit falls to 14-11.

The Warriors return home to face the Portand Trailblazers Monday night at Oracle Arena. Game time is at 7:30 pm PT.

Durant, Warriors, send the Hornets down with 101-87 win

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Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant reacts to making a dunk against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors were without Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Patrick McCaw, and saw Zaza Pachulia leave the game early in the first quarter with a shoulder injury.

The Warriors called up Quinn Cook from the G-League Santa Cruz Warriors and Cook made his first start in the NBA. With Pachulia out, head coach Steve Kerr rotated JaVale McGee, David West, Jordan Bell, and Kevon Looney. Kevin Durant had a triple-double (35 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds) to lead the Dubs to a 101-87 win. It was the Dubs’ fifth win in a row on their six-game road trip.

The Warriors held the Hornets to 38 points in the first half as they shot 31% from the floor. Klay Thompson, Nick Young, and Quinn Cook made significant contributions to the Warriors’ attack.

“I knew Quinn would play well,” Kerr said. “He’s played a lot of minutes for New Orleans last year and we have watched him in practice in the G-league…We have a lot of synergy between the franchises and we run the same stuff, so Quinn knows all of the plays.”

The Warriors played from start to finish and refused to let the Hornets climb their way back into the game. The Hornets made a run late in the game, but the Dubs answered the challenge.

“Even without those other guys, they’re still pretty good,” Hornets interim head coach Stephen Silas, who’s leading the team while Steve Clifford is dealing with a health issue. “Obviously with Kevin Durant and Klay (Thompson) it was hard to stop those guys tonight.”

Kevin Durant led by example. Durant scored just 16 points in the first quarter. The Warriors led 26-18 as they held Charlotte to just 31% from the floor. In the second quarter, Thompson, Cook, and young connected on several three-pointers as the Dubs ended the first half with a 53-38 lead. The Dubs had a 26-point lead, but Kemba Walker and the Hornets’ offense got going.

In the second half, David West and JaVale McGee made several key buckets. The Hornets cut the deficit to 11 at the end of the third quarter, but the Warriors played defense in the fourth quarter to put the game in the win column.

Game Notes and Stats — Curry has a sprained ankle and is wearing a boot. He’s going to head home to the Bay Area Thursday and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Green was out with a shoulder injury and it is not known if he will play in Detroit Friday night.

Patrick McCaw was hit on the nose by Demarcus Cousins Monday. McCaw may not be available Friday.

Pachulia injured his shoulder and his status is unknown.

Durant said: “It’s fun when you get to create and just be creative out there, whether it’s passing to JaVale (McGee) for a lob or shooting a pull-up jump shot…Tonight it felt like I could go in my bag of tools, my bag of tricks, to pull some stuff out. I don’t expect it to be like that every single game, but tonight I thought it called for it.”

“It wasn’t so much a vocal leadership role, but more of an ‘I got this’ type of thing,’ Kerr said. “It was the way he carried himself. He was clearly the best player on the floor and the dominant player on the floor. Without Steph (Curry), he almost had a different bounce to his step, like `This one is mine, I got it.”

Thompson ended the night with 22 points. Cook tallied eight points, three assists, and three rebounds. Young came off the bench and knocked down 10. Andre Iguodala had eight points and eight boards. David West added six points, four assists, three rebounds, and two blocked shots.

Leading scorers for the Hornets were Kemba Walker with 25, Nick Batum 15, and Dwight Howard with 14.

The Warriors shot 48% from the floor and held Charlotte to just 35% The Dubs knocked down 11 three-point shots and recorded 26 assists. On defense, they had eight steals and 12 blocked shots.

The Warriors finish the six-game road trip in Detroit Friday night. The Pistons beat the Warriors in Oakland early in the season. The Pistons will be trying to sweep the season series. Game time is at 4 pm.

Warriors overcome 21-point deficit to beat Pelicans 125-115 ; Curry is hurt

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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after making a 3-point basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Warriors were thoroughly outplayed in the first half of Monday night’s game with the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Arena in the Crescent City.

Everything worked for the Pelicans in the first half. They had terrific ball movement, they were making three point shots, they were rebounding, and they were beating the Warriors. However, the Warriors are the defending NBA champions, and they showed the Pelicans as they started the third quarter on a 15-0 run and stopped the Pelican offense cold as they won 125-115.

The Pelicans were playing without their big man, Anthony Davis, who was out with a groin strain. They still had to deal with Demarcus Cousins and Jrue Holiday. Cousins, perhaps the best center in the NBA, was a force in the middle. He has been effective making three point shots, and that gives his game an added dimension. The Warriors could usually handle Cousins when he was with the Kings, but he has a better supporting cast in New Orleans.

The Pelicans offense really clicked in the first half, and their defense had Golden State completely out of sync. Holiday led the Pelicans with 23 points in the half. E’Twaun Moore had 13. Rajon Rondo had eight, Dante Cunningham had nine, and Cousins knocked down 11.

Steph Curry led the Dubs with 12, but he was just 3-9 from the floor. Durant had nine, McGee had five, Green had six and Klay Thompson had just two. The Pelicans led by 20 at the half (69-49). The Warriors looked tired as they made 10 turnovers and were outrebounded 28-26. The Pelicans recorded 20 assists while the Dubs had just 14.

The Warriors, as most fans know, seem to figure out what to do at the halftime intermission and get going in the third quarter. They did exactly that. They started the quarter on a 15-0 run to cut the deficit to just five points. The Pelicans calmed down and didn’t appear to be fazed as they were able to maintain the lead and were up by six (82-76). It was at this point that Holiday got hot and propelled the Pelicans to a 91-80 advantage. Curry took over, and he scored the last eight points of the period to make it a 91-88 game. The Warriors outscored the Pelicans 37-22 in the quarter.

The Warriors continued to roll in the fourth quarter. They found their rhythm and were back in sync. The lead changed hands several times, but the Pelicans were starting to wilt. They regained the lead 105-102 but Steph made a three-pointer, and Nick Young came up big with two consecutive three-point shots that put the Warriors ahead for good. The Warriors increased the lead to ten (120-110) when Steph injured his ankle and had to leave the game. The Warriors were able to hold on, and they won 125-115.

Game notes and stats — Zaza Pachulia did not play Monday night as he had a sore shoulder. JaVale McGee made his first start of the season. Patrick McCaw was injured in the first half when he was hammered on the head and appeared to have blood running from his nose. He was taken to the locker room and did not return. Shaun Livingston was given the night off.

The other injury occurred late in the game when Curry appeared to twist his right ankle. He hobbled to the locker room, and X-Rays were taken. The X-Rays were negative which is a good sign. Curry said he will “see how it feels tomorrow and go from there” “The surgical repairs from five or six years ago are fine.”

Cousins and Kevin Durant were both ejected from the game with just 1:13 left to play. Each player had a technical called on them earlier in the game, and since this was their second technical, they had to exit.

Curry led the Dubs with 31. Thompson came to life in the second half and finished with 22. Green and Durant finished with 19. Holiday had 34, and Moore had a career-high 27 points in a losing effort. The Warriors are 19-6 while the Pelicans fall to 12-12

The Warriors play game five of the six-game road trip in Curry’s hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Game time is at 4 pm PST.

Warriors get it going in second half and dominate Heat 123-95 in Miami

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Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, right, and Kevin Durant react on the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Miami. The Warriors won 123-95. (AP Photo/Joe Skipper)

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors had the day off on Saturday in Miami. “Just needed to get some sun and hit the clubs,” head coach Kerr deadpanned with clear sarcasm “That’s what the coaches and I did. We were out all night.” The rest did wonders for the club as they sent the Heat down to defeat Sunday night by a score of 123-95.

The two teams played a very competitive first half. The Heat outscored the Warriors 36-33 in the first quarter. The Warriors fought back and led by just two points at the end of the half (62-60). Curry led the club with 20 points.

The Warriors took control of the game at the beginning of the third period as they went on an 18-3 run. They outscored the Heat by 20 points in the quarter, and Kerr did not play Curry or Durant in the fourth period. In fact, the Warrior defense was so good they held the heat to just 35 points for the entire second half as they won going away.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said this about the Dubs: “Golden State took it to a different level…What I wanted to see was a competitive response.”

Heat’s leading scorer, Goran Dragic, said this: “The first half we competed with them. Second half, we didn’t.”

Game notes and stats — Curry scored 30 points in 30 minutes of action and was Plus 20 when he was on the floor. “Nothing magical or no secret sauce to it,” Curry said. “Just trying to be efficient.”

Warriors’ Shaun Livingston got ejected with 6:24 left in the first half after going forehead-to-forehead with referee Courtney Kirkland while arguing a non-call. Kirkland said the ejection “was for making physical contact with me.”

Durant knocked down 24 and had seven assists and three rebounds. He was plus-18. Draymond Green didn’t score a lot, but his presence was felt when he was on the court as he ended the game with a plus-32. He scored four points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Klay Thompson added 19, four assists, five rebounds and he was plus-33. Omri Casspi led the bench with 10 and David West knocked down eight.

Leading scorers for Miami were Goran Dragovic with 20, Josh Richardson 12, Kelly Olynyk 14, and Tyler Johnson 13. Dion Waiters, who torched the Dubs when they were beaten in Miami, was 1-for-10 from the floor and scored just four points. He was minus-23 during his playing time.

The Warriors made 47 field goals, good for 56% from the floor, and held the Heat to just 33 field goals and 40.7% shooting. The Warriors outrebounded them 47-28. The Dubs recorded 32 assists and they committed just 10 turnovers. They also had four steals and four blocked shots.

The Warriors play their third game in four nights as they travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans. Shaun Livingston will be given the night off. Game time is at 5 pm.

Warriors kick it up a notch as they rout the Magic 133-112

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is fouled by Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton, left, while driving to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Warriors probably played their best game of the year as they were firing on all cylinders as they beat the Orlando Magic 133-112 at the Amway Center Friday night. The Warriors led from start to finish. Even though they committed 19 turnovers, they recorded an astounding 46 assists on 55 field goals.

Four of the Warriors’ starters were in double figures and rookie Jordan Bell, who played 16 minutes, kicked in with 16 points. Bell had four rebounds and blocked three shots as he impressed the coaches with his performance. Curry had this to say about the amazing number of assists: “That’s what we pride ourselves on, ball movement, getting everyone involved,” “Everybody gets touches, and we help each other in that way because we are all threats.” Two of the Warriors finished the night with a double-double. Curry scored 23 points and had 10 assists. Draymond Green finished the night with 12 points and also had 10 assists.

Curry and Durant scored the first 10 points of the game for the Warriors. Each player made a three-point shot, and each made a two-pointer. That set the stage for the Dubs as they outscored the Magic 41-34 at the end of the first quarter. The Warriors kept it going as they increased the lead to 15 (78-63) at the end of the first half.

Orlando won the third quarter 28-24 to shave four points off the lead, but the Warriors were not fazed and outscored the Magic by 10 in the fourth quarter to win by 21 (133-112).

Game notes and stats: With the win, the Warriors are now 17-6 for the season, and the Magic fall to 9-14.

Scoring leaders for Golden State were Klay Thompson with 27. Curry had 23, 10 assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Durant knocked down 25 points, seven assists, two rebounds, and four blocked shots. Durant was ejected from the game for arguing with the referees with 4:52 left to play. Durant had this to say about the team’s play and the 46 assists: “That’s amazing…Everybody came and made plays tonight. We moved well without the ball and kept clicking on all cylinders.”

The Warriors bench outscored the Magic bench 40-23. Jordan Bell had 16 and Patrick McCaw had eight. Scoring leaders for Orlando were Aaron Gordon 29, Evan Fournier 22, Jonathan Simmons 22, Elfrid Payton 10, and D.J.Augustin 12.

The Warriors played an amazing game as they were in total control from start to finish. What they did in Orlando certainly impressed the Magic’s coach Frank Vogel. “Golden State definitely impresses you with everything they do,” Vogel said. “Their passing, their cutting, their ability to play off each other and their shot-making facilitates all of that stuff.”

Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr said this about the team’s effort on Friday: “I think the guys were embarrassed by the last two games,” Kerr said, referring to an overtime win over the Lakers and a loss to the Kings. “If we can just play with that kind of energy, a little better judgment, and a little better defense, we’re on to something. This is a good step in the right direction.”

The Warriors played pretty well on defense. They outrebounded the Magic 42-35. They made nine steals and had 11 blocks. On offense, they shot 62.5% from the floor and made 11 of 24 three-point shots and held Orlando to just 45.8% from the floor.

The Warriors travel to Miami to face the Heat. Their coach, Eric Spoelstra, loves to slow down the pace of the game, and the Heat gave the Warriors all they could handle when they played in Oakland. The Heat will have Dion Waiters back, and Waiters destroyed the Dubs last year when the Heat beat them in Miami. The Warriors and Steve Kerr will have their work cut out for them. Game time is at 4 pm.

Warriors come to life; defeat Lakers 127-123 in overtime

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The Warriors began the six-game road trip with a win in overtime over the LA Lakers 127-123. Kevin Durant and Steph Curry returned to action Wednesday night. Steph, who missed a game with a hand bruise, returned to the lineup with his right ring finger heavily taped. Steph had a rough time as he did not make shots taken with his right hand. He did make one three-point shot in regulation, but most of his points came when he scored with his left. However, in the five-minute overtime period, Steph made an adjustment and scored thirteen of his twenty-eight points in overtime to lead the Warriors to victory.

The Warriors led 30-20 after the first period, and it looked like they were going to cruise to a win. The young Lakers had other thoughts, and they won the second quarter by fourteen points. The Warriors went to sleep halfway through the period, and the Lakers were able to go on an 18-4 at the end of the quarter to take a four-point advantage 54-50 at the end of the first half. Brandon Ingram led the Lakers with 14 and bench players Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson had 12 and 8. Former Warrior center Andrew Bogut scored two but was not a factor. Kevin Durant led the Dubs with 13, Steph and Zaza Pachulia each had six. Klay Thompson, Nick Young, and Shaun Livingston each had 5. The Lakers shot 53.8% from the floor. The Lakers, who are not a good shooting team, played like the Sacramento Kings Wednesday night. The Kings beat the Dubs as they shot over 50% from the floor and the Lakers, coached by former Warrior assistant coach Luke Walton, tried to emulate what the Kings did on Monday night.

The third quarter was nip and tuck for the entire twelve minutes of the period. The Warriors were able to end the quarter tied at 84, but it wasn’t easy. Lakers highly touted rookie, Lonzo Ball made three three-point shots. The Warriors committed four turnovers in a row, but somehow they managed to outscore the Lakers 34-30 in the quarter. Jordan Bell mad two key buckets and Nick Young made a two-point shot to give the Dubs the lead 84-82 just before the end of the period. The Lakers came back with a bucket of their own to tie the game.

The Warriors tried to put the game away in the fourth period. They took the lead, but the Lakers kept coming back. It was tied three times at 91, 93, and 95. TheDubs took a 5-point lead when Steph hit a deuce and Klay followed with a three to lead 100-95 with 5:20 to play. The Lakers tied the game again at 104 and 106. The Lakers took a 3-point lead 109-106 with just 55 seconds left. KD tied it with a three, and the game went to overtime tied at 109.

In 5-minute overtime stanza, Steph made an adjustment and mad two three-point shots. They led by seven before the Lakers woke up and fought back. The Warriors led by six after Steph made a two-pointer to put the Dubs up 122-116. The  Lakers clawed their way back to make it a one-point game 124-123, but Steph made free throws near the end of the game to win it for Golden State 127-123.

Game Notes and Stats- After the game, Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr said this about the performance of his team:” it took us most of the game before we competed and played with passion,” He also said this about the 22 turnovers the team committed: we “gotta take better care of the ball.”

Talking about Steph Curry, Kerr remarked:’he had a horrible game, but it takes a special player to bounce back.” Curry scored 27 points with 13 of them coming in overtime. He also said this about Kevin Durant’s performance:” he carried us.”

Here are the numbers. KD scored 29, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds. Klay had 20 points. Draymond Green finished the night with a double-double. He tallied 15 points, 9 assists, and eleven boards. Zaza Pachulia pitched in with 11. The Warriors shot 50% from the floor, made 12 3-point shots and had 30 assists. They outrebounded the Lakers 49-34. On defense, they had 10 steals and four blocks, but they committed 22 turnovers. The Lakers were held to 49.5% from the floor and they made 9 3-pointers. Brandon Ingram had a career-high 32 points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 21. Lonzo Ball had 15, and Jordan Clarkson had 21, and Julius Randle finished with 20.

David West did not play as he had the night off.

The Warriors improve to 16-6 while the Lakers fall to 8-12. The Warriors play the Orlando Magic Friday night in Orlando. Gam time is at 4 pm.

 

Golden State Warriors post game wrap: Warriors without Durant and Curry can’t stop Kings on home floor 110-106

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Sacramento Kings’ Willie Cauley-Stein lays up a shot against Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — On a night when the Warriors played without Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, they were not able to overcome their absence and lost 110-106 to the visiting Sacramento Kings. The two teams played a very close and entertaining game, and the final outcome was in doubt for the entire 48 minutes. Warriors coach Steve Kerr started Patrick McCaw in place of Curry, and Omri Casspi filled in for Durant. McCaw played very well He tallied 16 points, seven assists, three rebounds, one blocked shot, and four steals. Klay Thompson led the team in scoring, and he knocked down five three-point shots, but he missed a three at the end of the game that would have won it for the Dubs.

The Kings, coached by Dave Joerger, probably played their best game of the year. The Kings are not known as a good shooting team, but shot 53% from the floor and made nine three-point shots as they upset the Warriors. The Kings had five players in double figures, and the stats will show how even the game was.

Both teams played well in the first quarter as the first 12 minutes ended with the teams tied at 27. With Sacramento leading by a point (36-35), the Dubs went on an 11-2 run to lead 46-38. The Kings refused to wilt and clawed their way back to finish the first half trailing by two (55-53). McCaw and Thompson led the Warriors with nine points each. Nick Young gave the Dubs a boost as he poured in eight. The Kinds were led by Zach Randolph and Garrett Temple. The Kings’ bench of Bogdan Bogdanovich, Willy Cauley-Stein, Buddy Hield, and Frank Mason III all made contributions to the Kings’ offense.

In the third quarter, it appeared that the Warriors had found their mojo as they were able to take a seven-point lead (76-69). The Kings were not to be denied. They continued to attack the Warriors’ defenses and went on a 9-0 run at the end of the period to take the lead 83-82. They increased the lead to six (90-84), but David West made a two-point shot, and Andre Iguodala connected on a three to tie the game at 92. The Warriors increased the lead to five (106-101), but the Kings tied the game at 106 with 1:43 left in the game. The Kings took the lead for good when they scored a bucket with 12.6 seconds left to play. The Warriors had a chance, but Thompson missed the shot, and the Warriors had to foul. The two free throws were made to seal the victory for Sacramento.

Game notes and stats — The Warriors shot 50% from the floor and made 16 three-pointers, but it wasn’t good enough. The Kings shot 53% from the floor, and they made nine threes. The Kings had seven more free throws and outscored the Dubs by seven in that department. The Warriors recorded 31 assists, which indicated the team had good ball movement. The Kings had 27. Rebounds were even. The Warriors had nine steals and six blocks while the Kings had seven steals, and they too, had six blocked shots.

The Warriors’ scoring leaders were Thompson with 21, McCaw with 16, Green with 14, Iguodala with 11, Livingston with 10, Casspi with nine, D. West with eight, and Young with eight.

The Kings’ Cauley-Stein had a terrific game. His line was 19 points, six assists, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots. George Hill had four threes and ended the night with 16. Temple had 14, Randolph had 11, Skal Labissiere had nine, and Frank Mason 14.

The Warriors embark on their longest road trip of the year when they meet the L.A. Lakers Wednesday night. They then go to Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, Charlotte and finish the trek in Detroit.

Game time for Wednesday’s game with the Lakers is at 7:30 pm PT.

Warriors extend win streak to two with 110-95 win over Pelicans

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, drives the ball away from New Orleans Pelicans guard Rajon Rondo during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors won, 110-95. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By: Ana Kieu

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 110-95 at Oracle Arena Saturday night.

The Warriors came off a massive 143-94 blowout win over the Bulls, while the Pelicans came off a standard 115-91 blowout win over the Suns. However, the Bulls and Suns were both struggling teams to say the least. Tonight’s matchup between the Warriors and Pelicans wasn’t as lopsided in terms of the standings.

Prior to the tip-off, Pelicans guard Ian Clark received a championship ring from the Warriors.

The Pelicans overwhelmed the Warriors in the first quarter. The Pelicans were 5-7 from the three-point line, while the Warriors were just 1-5. The fast-break points were in favor of the Pelicans (9-0). The Pelicans outscored the Warriors 31-17 at the end of the first quarter.

After an unsatisfactory opening quarter, the Warriors outscored the Pelicans 36-22 to even the score at 53 apiece at the half. The Warriors’ offense put on a show for rapper and Vallejo native E-40, who was spotted in the audience at the Oracle Arena tonight.

Here are the halftime stats: Klay Thompson with 16 points and made four of six three-pointers, Omri Casspi with seven points and two blocks, Andre Iguodala with seven points and four assists, David West with six points, Steph Curry five points and five assists, Shaun Livingston with four points, Draymond Green with two points, four rebounds and three assists, Zaza Pachulia with two points and three rebounds and Kevon Looney with two points and three rebounds.

The Warriors started the second half on the right foot as they took the lead on a 6-0 run and never looked back. Also, the Warriors’ Twitter account retweeted a tweet from ESPN, who said their alternate jerseys are fire.

The Warriors led the Pelicans 84-75 at the end of the third quarter.

The Warriors continued to dominate in the fourth quarter. Livingston completed a three-point play to put the Warriors up 95-83 with 8:48 left in the game. The Warriors then went on a 8-0 run that was nice while it lasted.

The Warriors finished the home game with a 110-95 win over the Pelicans. Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, four rebounds and six assists. Thompson recorded 24 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two boards. Pachulia scored 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals. Casspi scored nine points, four rebounds and two assists. Green scored six points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Iguodala had 14 points and four assists. Livingston had seven points and two rebounds. West had six points, two rebounds and two assists. Looney had three points and five rebounds.

Notes
Warriors’ injury update: Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) is out for tonight’s game against the Pelicans. Andre Iguodala (sore left knee) is probable.

The Warriors debuted their Statement alternate uniforms, featuring “The Town” logo.

Last night, Jameer Nelson, Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins combined for 21 of the Pelicans’ 29 assists with eight, seven and six, respectively.

Pelicans’ injury report: Alexis Ajinca (right knee injury), Solomon Hill (left hamstring tear) and Frank Jackson (right foot fracture).

Up Next
The Warriors host the Kings on Monday, November 27 at 7:30 pm PST.

The Pelicans host the Timberwolves on Wednesday, November 29 at 7 pm CST.

Warriors rout Chicago Bulls 143-94 behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson

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Golden State Warriors forward Jordan Bell (2) is congratulated by center JaVale McGee (1) after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. The Warriors won 143-94. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland — The Warriors, still smarting from the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night, returned to form and dominated the Chicago Bulls, defeating them 143-94. The Warriors rested Draymond Green. Also, Kevin Durant’s ankle was still sore, so the Dubs felt he could use the night off.

Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr started Omri Casspi for Durant, and rookie Jordan Bell was given his first NBA start in place of Draymond. Bell played very well as he tallied nine points, four assists, six rebounds, and had six blocked shots.

The Bulls, the worst shooting team in the NBA, played a very competitive first quarter and led by three 32-29 at the end of the first 12 minutes. The Bulls shot 55% from the floor, and the Warriors shot 54%. Steph Curry scored just five points in the quarter, and it looked as if the Warriors were in for a tussle.

However, Curry scored 26 points in the second quarter and his backcourt partner, Klay Thompson, started making shots. The two of them reminded the fans that the Splash Brothers were still around, and when they get hot, no one stands a chance. The Warriors outscored the Bulls 45-21 and led 74-53 at the end of the first half. Curry had 31, and Thompson pitched in with 14. Jordan Bell contributed four. Bench players Andre Iguodala and Kevon Looney each added five. The Warriors shot 60% from the floor and made six three-point shots.

The Warriors dominated the third period as they outscored the Bulls 36-13 and the game was over at this point. Thompson, Omri Casspi, Andre Iguodala, and Zaza Pachulia led the onslaught. The Dubs led by 44 points at the end of three quarters (110-66). Kerr sent in his bench for the fourth quarter, and they did not let up. Nick Young, Jordan Bell, Kevon Looney, Omri Casspi, and Patrick McCaw all played well. The Bulls did nothing and they fell to the Dubs 143-94.

Game notes and stats — Curry, who did not play at all in the fourth quarter, recorded 33 points, five assists, and seven rebounds. Thompson finished the night with 29. Pachulia tallied 11 points, six assists and five boards. Iguodala finished with ten, Looney, seven, David West six, Nick Young 17,  and Patrick McCaw nine.

The Warriors shot 58.2% from the floor and made 16 three-pointers. They Dubs recorded 37 assists, and that indicated they were moving the ball well. They excelled on defense, too. The Dubs out-rebounded the Bulls 49-40, and they had 11 steals and 11 blocked shots. The Dubs turned the ball over just 11 times. The Bulls’ leading scorer was Jeria Grant with 21. Lauri Markkanen added 14. Antonio Blakely had 11. Bobby Portis had 10.

The Warriors improved to 14-5 while the Bulls dropped to 3-14.

The Warriors meet the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday night at Oracle Arena. The Pelicans are led by Anthony Davis and Demarcus Cousins. The Pelicans, coached by Alvin Gentry, are proving to be formidable as they have beaten the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. Game time will be at 5:30 pm.