Birthday boy Curry leads Warriors over Pelicans

AP

OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Curry had 27 points, five rebounds and five assists on his 28th birthday, and the Golden State Warriors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-107 on Monday night for their record 49th straight regular-season home victory.

Draymond Green added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors (60-6), who are 31-0 at Oracle Arena this season. With 16 games to go, they remain one game ahead of the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ pace in their record 72-win season.

Birthday songs, MVP chants, and a serenade and piece of cake from his toddler daughter, Riley, made it a great day for Curry — all after his fifth Western Conference Player of the Week award this season and second in two weeks.

He shot 4 for 9 from 3-point range and 10 of 16 overall.

Anthony Davis had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, while Toney Douglas drew the tough task of defending Curry.

Klay Thompson added 18 points for Golden State, which swept the teams’ first-round playoff series last year 4-0.

The Warriors clinched the Pacific Division during their off day Sunday, giving the franchise back-to-back Pacific titles for the first time since the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons.

“It’s going to go unnoticed for the most part because of our record and because of our goals,” coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s a major accomplishment.”

The Pelicans opened the season at Oracle Arena on Oct. 27 and New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry received his championship ring after serving as Warriors associate head coach last season as the franchise captured its first title in 40 years.

The teams played twice in five days to start the season.

“I told the guys: ‘This is a game you should embrace. They’re doing something special,'” Gentry said of Golden State.

The Warriors trailed 40-38 with 7:18 before halftime, then went on a 19-6 run late in the second quarter for a 59-50 lead at the break. Marreese Speights had 14 points and seven rebounds, and Anderson Varejao scored seven during the second quarter in another productive night by the reserves.

MOST 3-POINTERS BY TEAMMATES

Curry (322) and Thompson (209) have the most combined 3s by teammates during a single season in NBA history with 531, topping their previous-best mark of 525 from last season.

Curry played on his birthday for the third straight year and fourth time overall.

KERR CREDITS GENTRY

Kerr was on a leave of absence for the season opener last fall while recovering from complications after two back surgeries, so he didn’t get to coach opposite good friend Gentry that night — or in the second game four days later.

Gentry meant so much to the then-first-year coach last season as his right-hand man on the bench.

“Alvin was just huge given that it was my first year coaching,” Kerr said. “His impact no doubt helped us win the championship and helped me kind of settle in to my new job.”

Gentry isn’t surprised by Golden State’s success under Kerr.

“Steve is a terrific leader,” Gentry said. “This isn’t anything that’s new. He’s been preparing for this for a long time. He put in so much work. When we worked together in Phoenix, he would ask questions. He wanted to know about specific plays. I didn’t have any doubt he was going to be a great coach. He worked at it so hard. I learned so much from him just being here the one year that I was.”

TIP-INS

Pelicans: New Orleans hasn’t won on the Warriors’ home floor since April 24, 2012. … The reeling Pelicans used their 33rd different starting lineup. … New Orleans is 6-17 on the road against the Western Conference.

Warriors: C Andrew Bogut had a 3-pointer on one end and a block on the other in one third-quarter sequence. It was his third career 3. … The Warriors moved to 2-2 in four games with Curry playing on his birthday. … Golden State has a seven-game home winning streak against New Orleans and three in a row overall.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: At Sacramento on Wednesday.

Warriors: Host Knicks on Wednesday.