Steph Curry Scores 29 Points As Warriors Beat Clippers 133-120

Steph Curry scored 29 points, although just three of them were 3-pointers, to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 133-120 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

Curry, Durant lead warriors to ninth straight win over clippers

Kevin Durant added 26 points and 10 assists.

The Clippers had a rough start to the contest, as they gave up three dunks and had four turnovers. Curry forced two steals, setting up Durant and JaVale McGee for dunks that shocked the hosts.

”We came out with intent, got two quick steals, pushed the transition, and set the tone that we were going to be physical on the defensive end,” Curry said.

Blake Griffin recorded 31 points, making 11 of 13 free throws, for Los Angeles. The Clippers (31-19) have now lost nine straight games to their California opponents, the franchise’s longest active skid against a single team.

”Trying to make plays is a never-ending struggle,” Griffin said. ”You just figure out the situation and sometimes it is just not your night. Open shots killed us.”

Nevertheless, the loss wasn’t as tough as that five days prior, when the Warriors beat the Clippers by 46 points at Oracle Arena. Clippers guard Chris Paul remained sidelined following thumb surgery.

On Golden State’s side, David West remains out with a thumb injury, while Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia continue to deal with shoulder ailments. McGee played in place of Pachulia.

“He’s been great,” Curry said of McGee, who recorded 11 points and eight rebounds over 15 minutes. “When he’s able to impact the game from the start, you can kind of feel that presence. He’s taken the starting opportunity and ran with it. It’s been awesome to see him get extended minutes and allowed him to show exactly what he can do for us.”

 The Warriors (43-7) have now won five straight, and 11 of their last 12.

Los Angeles got within seven on a 3-pointer from Jamal Crawford with 1:55 left in the game. However, Durant countered with a 3-pointer and Klay Thompson added another.

Curry tore through the Clippers’ defense. The MPV guard slipped through the lane for a fast-break layup with Raymond Felton and DeAndre Jordan covering him on either side. Curry drew a foul and completed the three-point play that kept Golden State ahead by 15 in the third quarter.

”They performed at a much higher level than us, it wasn’t even close,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. ”They’re a better team until we prove differently.”

The Warriors just messed with their opponents, who got within four points in the fourth quarter and then five in the second, only for Golden State to regain a double-digit lead.

 ”I thought we took the fight to them right away,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr. ”We forced turnovers on the first three possessions of the game. That really set a good tone for us.”

The Clippers outshot the Warriors in the first quarter when the latter took nearly twice as many shots as the former.

Curry scored his 200th three-pointer of the season with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter, making him the first player in NBA history to reach 200 or more 3-pointers in five consecutive seasons.

Griffin passed Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo to move to second on the Clippers franchise scoring list.

The Warriors next visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, while the Clippers will visit the Boston Celtics on Sunday to start their annual five-game Grammy road trip.

MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 23: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on January 23, 2017 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena