Warriors stay on track for NBA history by beating Clippers
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Jamal Crawford #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers at ORACLE Arena on March 23, 2016 in Oakland, California. 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. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP
OAKLAND, California — Stephen Curry scored 33 points as the Golden State Warriors stayed on track to make more history Wednesday night with a 114-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Klay Thompson added 32 points with seven 3-pointers, Curry drew a rare technical in the fourth, and Harrison Barnes had 11 points and six rebounds as Golden State (64-7) stayed one game ahead of the 1995-96 Bulls’ pace in their record 72-win season.
The Warriors won their 51st straight regular-season home game, improving to 33-0 this season at Oracle Arena. The Clippers were swept by Golden State for the first time since dropping all six meetings in 1985-86.
Kawhi Leonard matched his career high with 32 points before leaving with a bruised quadriceps as San Antonio beat Miami 112-88 to remain perfect at home.
San Antonio has won its first 36 home games, leaving the Spurs a game shy of matching the record set by Chicago in 1995-96. The Spurs have won 45 consecutive regular-season games at home over two seasons.
Leonard’s injury could have put a damper on the team’s 60th overall victory, but it did not appear serious.
In Cleveland, LeBron James scored 26 points and Kevin Love added 24 in Cleveland’s 113-104 victory over Milwaukee.
Kyrie Irving had 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Tristan Thompson added 13 points and 10 rebounds to help Cleveland maintain its grip on the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Andre Drummond had 30 points and 14 rebounds, as Detroit led all the way at home to beat Orlando 118-102.
Chasing their first postseason appearance since 2009, the Pistons have won four straight, and they still have four games to go on their nine-game homestand.
Damian Lillard had 27 points and six assists and Ed Davis scored all of his 16 points in the first half to help Portland win at home over Dallas, 109-103.
Maurice Harkless, starting for just the fourth time all season, and C.J. McCollum each added 14 points for the Blazers, as Dallas fell into a tie with Utah for seventh in the West.
Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points and Evan Turner added 17 as Boston beat visiting Toronto 91-79. Toronto had a four-game winning streak snapped and fell 2 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Derrick Favors’ dunk with 1.6 seconds left lifted Utah past Houston, 89-87. Gordon Hayward had 22 points, and Favors added 17 for Utah. The Jazz trailed by 18 in the second half but hit the lead with 4 minutes left. After Favors’ dunk, Rocket James Harden’s 3-point attempt bounced off the rim.
In Chicago, rookie Kristaps Porzingis matched his season high with 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Carmelo Anthony added 24 to help New York win 115-107. The Bulls dropped behind Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings for the eighth and final playoff spot. Nikola Mirotic scored a career-high 35 points for the Bulls.
In other games, Emmanuel Mudiay made a 35-footer at the buzzer to finish with 27 points and give Denver a thrilling home victory over Philadelphia, 104-103.
Reserve Dennis Schroder scored 23 points and Kyle Korver connected on five 3-pointers as Atlanta won 122-101 at Washington, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks to lead Minnesota past Sacramento at home, 113-104, and Kobe Bryant said farewell to Phoenix, scoring 17 points cheered on by a loud, pro-Lakers crowd in a 119-107 loss to the Suns.
