Warriors get back at Cavaliers in a big way.
Curry: 20 pts; 11 assists; five 3s.
James: 20 pts; 6-of-18 shots; 8 rebounds.
Irving: 15 turnovers; 17 points; 11 assists.
OAKLAND, California (AP) – Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors certainly looked ready to trade some more blows with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers come June.
The two-time reigning MVP hit five 3-pointers and had 20 points while matching his season best with 11 assists in Golden State’s 126-91 rout of the defending champs Monday.
Klay Thompson scored 26 points with five 3s, and Draymond Green produced his third triple-double of the season with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. He also equaled his career best with five blocks – and had another dustup with King James in the process.
James had 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting and eight rebounds as he and Green became the talk once more as their relationship turned even more testy.
Kevin Durant added 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the Warriors in a much-hyped matchup merely weeks after Golden State lost 109-108 in Cleveland on Christmas.
The Warriors squandered a 14-point lead that day in a loss that fueled them going into Monday. They relinquished a 3-1 advantage in the NBA Finals last year, a failure that motivates them to return to the big stage. And the rivals’ latest holiday game marked the Cavs’ first trip back to Oracle Arena since capturing the title here seven months ago.
Kyrie Irving – who hit game-winners against Golden State in the past two matchups, including the championship clincher – scored 17 points on an uncharacteristic day for the Cavs when they committed 15 turnovers to 11 assists.
The latest altercation between Green and James came with 6:55 left in the first half. Golden State led 52-35 when James collided with Green near midcourt, resulting in a flagrant 1 foul on Golden State’s emotional All-Star. Green’s arm extended across the upper body of James, who went down hard and lay on the court. Green reacted by appearing to mock James for flopping – and he wasn’t the only one to sense some embellishment from LeBron.
“Flagrant 1 on Draymond?? What has happened to my league??” former player-turned-analyst Reggie Miller posted on Twitter.
HAWKS 108, KNICKS 107
NEW YORK (AP) – Dennis Schroder scored 28 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds left, as the Atlanta Hawks beat the New York Knicks 108-107 on Monday.
Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 points and Paul Millsap had 17 for the Hawks.
Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points for the Knicks, who changed their lineup but it wasn’t quite good enough. They lost for the 11th time in 13 games.
WIZARDS 120, TRAIL BLAZERS 101
WASHINGTON (AP) – Bradley Beal scored 25 points and John Wall had 24 as Washington rolled to its 12th consecutive home victory.
76ERS 113, BUCKS 104
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Joel Embiid scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as Philadelphia won for the fourth time in five games.
PACERS 98, PELICANS 95
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Jeff Teague had 16 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, helping Indiana win for the fifth time in six games.
NUGGETS 125, MAGIC 112
DENVER (AP) – Nikola Jokic scored a career-high 30 points and Emmanuel Mudiay dished out a career-best 13 assists as Denver followed its “home” win in London with another victory at the Pepsi Center.