Cavaliers post 12th straight victory.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Stephen Curry scored 31 points but hobbled off with an injury as the Golden State Warriors mounted a second-half comeback to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans, 125-115, in a bruising battle on Monday.
For the second time this season, the Warriors overturned a 20-point half-time deficit to clinch a decisive victory.
Monday’s win came at a cost though, with Curry leaving the court late in the game after suffering what looked like a nasty twist of his right ankle.
Curry limped off to the locker room for treatment with just under a minute left with the Warriors leading 120-113.
Moments earlier, Warriors star Kevin Durant had been ejected for the third time this season after clashing with DeMarcus Cousins.
Cousins appeared to connect with a glancing headbutt during an on-court confrontation before both players were tossed.
Durant’s ejection and Curry’s injury were the final twists of an absorbing encounter which saw the Pelicans surge into a 69-49 half-time lead at the Smoothie King Center in Louisiana.
Jrue Holiday led the scoring for New Orleans with 34 points with E’Twaun Moore adding 27 points.
Cousins had a double-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists but ultimately Golden State reeled in the Pelicans with a dazzling second-half display.
The Warriors won the third quarter 39-22 and outscored New Orleans 37-24 in the fourth quarter.
Klay Thompson was the next highest scorer with 22.
Both Durant and Draymond Green had 19 points each. Green pulled down nine rebounds and contributed seven assists as the Dubs improved to 19-6.
CAVS GORE BULLS
In Chicago, Kevin Love and LeBron James provided the firepower as the Cleveland Cavaliers notched their 12th straight win with a 113-91 blowout over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.
Love had 24 points and 13 rebounds while James weighed in with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Cavs improved to 17-7.
Cleveland can equal their franchise record for consecutive victories if they beat Sacramento at home on Wednesday.
The Cavs also benefited from 24 points from Dwyane Wade while Jeff Green finished with 14.
Chicago however were left reflecting on a ninth straight loss which has seen them slip to 3-19.
Kris Dunn was their top-scorer with 15 points on a night when the home team got little change from the visiting Cavaliers.
Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday both scored 14 points for the Bulls, with Lauri Markkanen adding 13.
Holiday sank a buzzer beater to reduce the Cavaliers lead to 86-71 heading into the final quarter, but Cleveland upped the scoring pace to cruise home.