Curry and Durant combine to power Warriors to win
Curry and Durant combine for 65 points to power Warriors to fifth straight win
TORONTO RAPTORS 121
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 127
Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant combined for 65 points to give the Golden State Warriors their fifth consecutive victory yesterday morning (Singapore time), as the Cleveland Cavaliers slumped to defeat in the absence of LeBron James.
Reigning NBA MVP Curry scored 35 points and had seven assists, while Durant weighed in with 30 points as the Warriors launched a four-game road trip with a 127-121 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Durant added nine rebounds and six assists, while Klay Thompson finished with 14 points. Draymond Green (11 points) and Andre Iguodala (10) also made double digits as the Warriors improved to nine-two.
The Warriors were made to sweat for victory however, seeing an 18-point fourth quarter lead reduced to just six points before they held on to win.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the game was effectively won in the second quarter, when his team outscored Toronto by 32-15 to forge a 66-53 lead at half-time.
"The second quarter was great, one of the best quarters we have played," Kerr said.
"That's probably the only quarter we've played tonight the way we want to play. Defence was good, we didn't foul.
"We rebounded and that was obviously the key to the game, that whole stretch. Draymond (Green) was brilliant. The whole quarter, I thought he was great.
"It was a good way to start the (four-game) trip. Beating a really, really, good team in a very tough environment."
While the Warriors celebrated a hard-earned win, Cleveland were given a reminder of how difficult life can be without James after they went down 103-93 to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.
LEBRON RESTED
James was rested for the game and the Pacers took full advantage to become only the second team to beat the reigning Champions this season.
Paul George had 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Jeff Teague added 20 for the Pacers.
"They were a dangerous team, even if LeBron is not in the line-up," Indiana coach Nate McMillan said.
"When our guys got the news he was not playing, my concern was a let-down. Guys were excited about LeBron and the world champions being in town.
"Our guys did the job defensively and, especially in the first half, we had good ball movement. Tonight, the key was simply to take care of business, even it LeBron is not in uniform."
Kevin Love topscored for the Cavaliers with 27 points, while Kyrie Irving added 24.
"We had our chances," Love said.
"We cut the lead to four or five a couple of times and it just felt like we either had a bad possession, a turnover and then that lead went to eight or nine points." - AFP.
OTHER RESULTS
Philadelphia 109 Washington 102, Orlando 89 New Orleans 82, Indiana 103 Cleveland 93, Boston 90 Dallas 83, NY Knicks 105 Detroit 102, Atlanta 107 Milwaukee 100, Oklahoma City 105 Houston 103, Denver 120 Phoenix 104, LA Clippers 107 Memphis 111, Sacramento 105 San Antonio 110.
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