Category: Golden State Warriors

Durant’s Career Night Overshadows Curry in Warriors 127-121 Loss

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By Matthew Harrington

In a battle of two of the top stars of the NBA, Stephen Curry’s Warriors dropped a 127-121 shootout to Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder (30-10) Friday night from Chesapeake Energy Arena. Curry collected his fifth-career 30 point, 10 assist game for the Warriors (25-16), but Durant’s career night spoiled Curry’s performance.

Most Valuable Player candidate Durant accounted for over a third of the Thunder’s baskets, torching the Warriors for a career-best 54 points on 19 of 28 shooting and 11 free throws. Curry led the Warriors with 37 points on 11 of 18 shooting, including six three-pointers, and added 11 assists to complete the double-double. Back court mate Klay Thompson nailed six treys to add 26 points of his own, while Thunder forward Serge Ibaka produced 21 points over 35 minutes of play. Thunder center Kendrick Perkins led all players in rebounds with 12, while David Lee reeled in nine for the Warriors. In total, the Thunder out-boarded the Warriors 41-33.

The two sides played it neck-to-neck to open the first nine minutes of play with Golden State leading with a slim 25-23 lead. The Thunder then went on a 14-7 run to close out the first leading 39-32. The Dubs took their first lead of the second quarter after Curry knocked down a shot from the charity stripe on a technical foul to give the Warriors a 56-55 lead with 3:48 left in the half. The Thunder closed out the half on a 16-9 run to hold a 71-65 lead at the midway point.

The home team expanded their lead 101-91 after the first 12 minutes of the second half before breaking the game open for a game-high 14 points lead, 123-109, with 2:45 left. Golden State outpaced their hosts 12-4 down the stretch for a respectable seven-point defeat to the third-place Thunder.

The Warriors hit the hardwood again tomorrow night, traveling to New Orleans for a Saturday night tip-off against the New Orleans Pelicans in Golden State’s sixth road game of the month.

Robinson, Nuggets slow down Warriors

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By Joe Hawkes

OAKLAND — Nate Robinson scored 24 points off the bench, with 14 coming in the crucial final quarter, and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Golden State Warriors,  123-116 Wednesday night at Oracle Arena.

Wilson Chandler and Ty Lawson scored 22 points each, and Randy Foye added 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-7 from behind the arc. J.J. Hickson scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high 24 rebounds. Lawson dished out 11 assists.

Denver out-rebounded Golden State 46-24.

Denver (20-18) has won six of their last seven games.

David Lee finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds and Stephen Curry finished with 24 points and seven assists in Golden State’s first game after a four day layoff. Golden State (25-15) hasn’t played since defeating the Boston Celtics last Friday night at home.

Klay Thompson had 21 points on 9-for-19 shooting from the field. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Harrison Barnes scored 15 points off the bench for Golden State, who was 11-1 in their last 12 games.

Speaking of the bench, Golden State acquired swingman shooting guard Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks from the Boston Celtics  as part of a three-team trade Wednesday, according to a report by Yahoo! Sports.

Golden State sent backup point guard Toney Douglas to the Miami Heat, and the Heat sent veteran center Joel Anthony to Boston.

Crawford is averaging 13.7 points per game in 39 games with the Boston Celtics this season and should give Golden State a guy who can create his own shot, not named Curry.

Brooks, a 6’5″ point guard, is a former lottery pick of the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets in 2011 out of Providence.

Golden State is in Oklahoma City Friday to take on the Thunder.

Warriors new arena at Piers 30-32: Favorable polls show 75% want new downtown arena

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by Ken Gimblin

SAN FRANCISCO–A recent poll sampling showed that out of 400 potential San Francisco voters 75 percent of them would be in favor of a new downtown arena at Peirs 30-32. The Golden State Warriors are gearing up to start their campaign for a new arena and get it on the ballot. They need 9,702 registered San Francisco voter signatures by February 3rd to get the measure on the June ballot.

The Warriors new arena campaign manager Jim Stearns feels this is acheivable and with a little more than two weeks left to make deadline Stearns said that the campaign finance goal of up to $100,000 and if the opposition turns up the heat he can get more that where that came from, “we’re going to need between $75,000 to $100,000 to get the signatures and if there is deep pocketed opposition we’ll have more.” said Stearns.

If Stearns and the Warriors campaign were to get the 9702 signatures they will put a ballot proposal that could be in front of the San Francisco voters by as early as June. The opposition which consists of former San Francisco mayor Art Agnos and the Sierra Club are taking steps to a new Warriors arena, but they could consider also stopping a high rise development proposed at AT&T Park by the San Francisco Giants and the Warriors would have luxury condos across the Embarcadero near Piers 30-32 that would include a brand new hotel building.

Not to mention that Pier 70 in the Dog Patch neighborhood just off Third Street is proposing high rise development there that would include housing and retail. Agnos said that blocking the bay views and developing and changing the waterfront landscape should be stopped in protecting what environment and what views the waterfront has left, “it’s a reaction to what appears to be the unchecked granting of exemptions of City Hall for high rise luxury developments along the city owned waterfront, if these projects are good as they say, then they should have no problem.” said Agnos.

Agnos’ point stemming from the 8 Washington condo ballot measure last November in the form of the San Francisco propositions B and C went down to defeat in the proposal for development on the waterfront not too far away from piers 30-32. However Warriors spokesman Nathan Ballard is confident in not only the recent poll results but if the Warriors pursued the signatures to get the meausre on the next ballot the Warriors would have no problem getting them, “we are confident when the voters see the entire (arena) proposal, they will support it.” said Ballard.

The Giants who stand to be the only show in town after the 49ers leave for the South Bay want to develop part of their parking lot property to high rises, condos, shopping retail and other activity along the waterfront but with the Warriors new arena coming on the scene the Giants might be forced to take a side because of all the opposition to the over development of the area. The plot thickens stay tuned.

Ken Gimblin is covering the arena developments for the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings for Sportstalk radio

Curry’s Heroics Hand Warriors First Win At Home In 2014

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By Matthew Harrington

For the first time in 2014, the Golden State Warriors (25-14) took the Oracle Arena court in front of blue-and-gold clad fans and the Dubs did not disappoint in their first look of the new year Friday night. In a thrilling finish, Stephen Curry nailed a jumper with 2.1 seconds left to seal a 99-97 win over the visiting Boston Celtics (13-24) in the Warriors’ first home game since a win over the Phoenix Suns December 27.

Andre Iguodala broke out for 22 points with 7 assists and three steals, including a pivotal steal in the waning seconds of the game to build a Warriors lead with 19 seconds left. The hero of the night Curry dropped 19 on the struggling Celtics, losers of 10 of their last 11, while Klay Thompson (17), David Lee (16) and Marreese Speighs (13) also broke double-digits in scoring. For the visitors, forward Jeff Green had a game-high 24 points, Kris Humphries had one of two double-doubles of the game with game-best 14 boards and 16 points. Celtics forward Jared Sullinger joined Humphries with 11 rebounds and 21 points.

The Warriors got out front with a 24-21 first quarter but trailed at the half 49-47 courtesy of a Celtics 28-23 second frame. The Dubs drop 25 points on Boston in the third to 18 Celtics tallies. The Celtics entered the final 12 minutes trailing 74-67 but managed to outscore the home team 30-25 to force a 97-97 tie with just 11 seconds on the clock. Curry, currently on the bench, checked in the game for Draymond Green after Jeff Green hit the game-tying shot to force a Warriors time-out. Curry would use a Lee screen to create space and knock down the game-winner with aplomb.

The Warriors, fresh off a 6-1 road trip, receive a welcome respite before facing the Denver Nuggets at home Wednesday night. They then hit the road once again, taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday night before a meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday.

Warriors Four Minutes Shy Of History In Brooklyn, Nets Snap Streak At 10

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By Matthew Harrington

The Golden State Warriors fell just over four minutes shy of history Wednesday night, getting tangled up by the Brooklyn Nets (14-21) at the Barclays Center 102-98 to snap a 10-game win streak, including winning the last six consecutive road games. A victory would have matched the longest streak in Warriors history, set during the 1971-72 season. The ’71-’72 team got just 5 of their 11 wins on the road while the current Warriors (24-14) boasted seven-straight road victories, including a win in Denver December 23rd before returning home for a pair then returning to the road again for the current stretch of travel. It also would have been the NBA’s first 7-0 uninterrupted road trip.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Nets shooting guard Joe Johnson dueled for the game-high in points, with Curry coming out on top with 34 points to Johnson’s 27. David Lee netted 20 points for the Warriors and Andray Blatche grabbed 17 off the bench for Brooklyn. Nets forward Mirza Teletovic had a game-best 10 rebounds, while Andrew Bogut’s nine led the Dubs.

For the second time in two nights, the Warriors struggled to establish dominance against a struggling team. The Warriors came back from an early Milwaukee lead Tuesday to complete a 101-80 blowout for their 10th-straight win, matching the most wins in a row by a Warriors team since the 1975 championship team. In Brooklyn Wednesday night the Warriors again flirted with disaster, spotting the Nets, who entered the game with an 8-9 record at home, to a 59-52 halftime lead.

Golden State managed to chip away at the Nets lead, outscoring the home team 24-16 in the third quarter. A Harrison Barnes three-pointer with just 32 seconds left in the third frame gave the Warriors their first lead of the second half 76-75. Kevin Garnett put the Nets back on top on a lay-up 12 seconds in to the final quarter. Garnett, fouled on the play by Draymond Green, converted the and-one for a 78-76 edge.

The two teams went shot-for-shot down to the wire, with no team making consecutive field goals for the first eight minutes in the final 12 minutes of regulation. The Warriors gained ground and took a one-point lead after Andrei Kirilenko missed a second free throw after hitting the first. Curry took a driving layup to the lane for the 88-87 lead with 6:48 left of game time. The Warriors lead grew to a second-half high of four points at 93-89 when Klay Thompson nailed a trey off a David Lee feed with 4:05 to go. Brooklyn outscored the Warriors 13-5 down the stretch, all but two Nets points coming on free throws, to halt the Warriors winning ways in the final game of the road trip. The Warriors ended the night with 27 personal fouls to the Nets 20.

The Warriors return home for a Friday night tilt against the Boston Celtics for the first game at Oracle Arena in the New Year. It’s also Golden State’s first game following a loss since a December 21st they demolished the Lakers 102-83 after suffering an embarrassing 102-104 loss to the short-handed Spurs just two earlier. It’s also the Warriors first home game since December 27, before they started their longest road trip of the season spanning seven cities in 11 days. When the Dubs last took the Oracle court just days after a win in Denver for a Christmas showdown with the Clippers, the Warriors were barely in the playoff picture, standing at eighth place in the Western Conference. By virtue of nine wins in their last ten, the Warriors now sit a game back of the Los Angeles Clippers for the Pacific Division lead and a fourth-place ranking.

Warriors Best Bucks, Run Longest Win-streak Since ’75 Season to 10

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By Matthew Harrington

After a 101-80 win Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, the Golden State Warriors (24-13) now stand on the cusp matching team history. The Dubs dominated the Milwaukee Bucks (7-27), currently boasting the worst record in the NBA, to reel off their tenth-straight victory, putting Golden State one win away from tying a franchise-high 11-game winning streak set by the 1971-72 squad.

David Lee had a game-high 22 points while also pulling in 18 rebounds, most by a player on either side Tuesday night, for his second-straight double-double. The forward went 10 for 12 from the field in 35 minutes of play. Klay Thompson (15) and Stephen Curry (15) combined for 30 points, while Curry had six assists to lead Golden State.

Warriors center Andrew Bogut, whom the Bucks drafted first overall in 2005, made his first appearance in Milwaukee as a visitor after a 2012 trade sent him to the west coast. He had 12 rebounds, coming two points shy of a double-double. Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova topped Milwaukee with 20 points while Brandon Knight chipped in 18. No Milwaukee played had more than six rebounds.

The Warriors winning ways appeared to be heading to an unexpected demise at the hands of the last-place Bucks after Milwaukee took a 30-28 first quarter lead by virtue of more than half the Milwaukee shots finding their mark. Golden State held a slim 50-48 lead at the half after outscoring Milwaukee 22-18 in the second 12 minutes. The Warriors cushioned the lead with a 29-20 scoring advantage in the third for a 79-68 then shut the Milwaukee offense down in the fourth for only 12 points. The Warriors added 22 tallies in the closing quarter to cap the 101-80 victory for their longest win-streak since the 1975 championship season.

The Warriors will look to tie history in the second half of a back-to-back Wednesday night from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The contest against a Nets squad well below a .500 winning percentage will finish off a season-high seven road games in a row for the Warriors. With a win, Golden State could return home with a chance to break the record for the team’s longest win-streak at Oracle Arena in a Friday night showdown with the Boston Celtics.

Warriors Continue Historic Run, Make Wizards Early Lead Disappear

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By Matthew Harrington
The Golden State Warriors ran their win-streak to nine-straight games, topping the Washington Wizards 112-96 at the Verizon Center Sunday afternoon. David Lee and Andrew Bogut registered double-doubles for the Dubs who continued their longest win streak since the end of the 1991 season and start of the 1992 campaign with the win.
Guard Klay Thompson had a game-high 26 points for the Warriors (23-13) on 9 of 14 shooting while Lee dropped 21 points and 11 rebounds. Bogut also had 11 rebounds, tying Lee for the game-best, and 15 points on seven baskets made in nine attempts. Wizards starting point guard John Wall and reserve Nene Hilario tied for the team-high in points with 14 with Wall notching a double-double of his own courtesy of his 10 assists. The Warriors Stephen Curry matched his Wizards counter-part with 10 assists and 14 points of his own.

The Wizards (14-17) raced out to an early 36-28 lead but Golden State would send the teams to the half tied at 58 after outscoring Washington 30-22 in the 2nd quarter. The Warriors took the 92-73 lead in the third by outscoring the hosts 34-15 then cruised to the win despite the Wizards outscoring them 23-20.

The win, coming in Golden State’s fifth road game in a row amidst the season’s longest road trip of seven games, boosted the Dubs past the Clippers to the top of the Pacific Division standings. The Warriors will travel to Milwaukee Tuesday looking for their tenth in a row, a streak that would match a ten-game run the Warriors compiled in December, 1975. After that, it’s a stop in Brooklyn then back home to Oracle Arena.

Warriors win 9th game in a row, drop Wizards

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

WASHINGTON —  Fueled by a 30-5 run to start the third quarter, the Golden State Warriors throttled the Washington Wizards, 112-96 Sunday to improve to 5-0 on their current seven-game road trip.

Klay Thompson scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the first half, and finished 9-for-16 from the field including, 6-for-9 from behind the arc.

David Lee finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Andrew Bogut had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Stephen Curry finished with 14 points (5-for-17 FG, 1-for-5 3-PT) for the Warriors, who have won nine straight games, the longest since 1975.  Harrison Barnes chipped in 13 points off the bench.

With the win, Golden State (23-13) moved into a first-place tie with the Los Angeles Clippers (23-13) in the Pacific Division.

John Wall finished with 14 points and 10 assists, but shot 4-for-11 from the field, and went ice cold in the third quarter, shooting 1-for-5. His backcourt mate, Bradley Beal, scored nine points on 4-of-15 shooting. As a team, Washington  shot 6-for-21 in the third quarter and finished 37-for-68 from the field for the game.

Nene scored 14 points and Martell Webster finished with 11 points for the Wizards (14-17), who dropped their third straight game, and four of their last six.

Golden State plays in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

 

 

Iguodala’s Buzzer Beater Runs Warriors Streak To Eight-Straight

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By Matthew Harrington

To string together eight-straight victories in professional sports a team finds a variety of ways to win. On Friday night in Atlanta, the Golden State Warriors produced a victory of the nail-biting variety with Andre Iguodala hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 101-100 thriller over the Hawks from Phillips Arena. The Warriors (22-13), winners of 9 of their last ten, now boast their longest win-streak in since April of the 2005 season.

The three-pointer was one of three baskets from the field for the forward who ended the night with seven points and five assists. David Lee (23), Stephen Curry (22) and Klay Thompson (21) all cracked the 20’s in scoring for the red-hot Warriors in their eighth-straight win, five of which have come on the road. Center Pero Antic set a career-high with 16 points for the Hawks (18-15), while reserve Shelvin Mack chipped in 15 points off the bench. Paul Millsap had a game-high 11 rebounds. Andrew Bogut topped the Warriors with nine boards after leaving Thursday’s win against defending champion Miami early due to a calf injury.

Iguodala’s trey with time expired stood as one of only shots from downtown the Warriors converted on, quite a letdown from the season-high of 15 made Thursday over the Heat. Despite the 22 points, Curry struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only one of seven deep shots, to accompany a game-leading nine turnovers.

The Warriors held a 24-21 lead after 12 minutes of play, but a second quarter that saw the Hawks outscore Golden State 25-22 to send both teams to the locker room tied at 46 at the midway point. In total, the lead changed hands three times in the second quarter, with the Hawks hitting a three and a lay-up to open the quarter on consecutive baskets for a 26-24 lead just a minute and a half in. The Warriors would not take back their lead until late in the quarter when a Klay Thompson jumper with 3:48 left made it 37-36 Warriors. Atlanta then outscored the Warriors 10-7 to regain their edge before the Warriors knotted it back up.

Atlanta allowed only 18 Warriors points in the third quarter to 26 Hawks tallies for a 72-64 lead before the Warriors went on a 37-28 fourth quarter run capped by Iguodala’s game-winner.

A game back of the Los Angeles Clippers for the Pacific Division lead, the Warriors continue their tour of the South with a Sunday tip-off from Washington, their fifth stop of a seven game road trip. A win would make it nine in a row for Golden State, who also enter the game having bested Washington in 9 of their last 12 meetings, including a sweep of last season’s series.

Curry, Lee lead Warriors past Heat for 7th straight win

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

MIAMI, FL — Stephen Curry had a game-high 36 points, while David Lee added 32 points and 14 rebounds as the Golden State Warriors picked up their seventh straight win, outdueling the Miami Heat 123-114 Thursday night.

Curry was read hot all night, shooting 13 for 22 from the field, including 8 for 15 from 3-point range helping Golden State (21-13) improve to 3-0 on their current seven-game road trip. Curry also dished out 12 assists.

Klay Thompson scored 16 points and Harrison Barnes added 15 points for the Dubs, who currently have the longest win streak in the league. Golden State shot 56 percent from the field, including 15 of 29 from beyond the arc.

LeBron James finished with 26 points,  while Dwyane Wade chipped in 22 points for Miami (24-8), which had all five starters finishing with double figures. Miami has lost just two games at home to Western Conference teams since the start of last season, both to the Warriors.

Chris Bosh scored 19 points, Mario Chalmers finished with 17 and Shane Battier had 11 for the Heat.

Golden State held a 40-31 rebounding edge over Miami.

The Warriors look to remain run their win streak to eight games Friday in Atlanta.