LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Jordan Poole and Golden State put on a shooting clinic in Cleveland on Friday, the Warriors draining 23 three-pointers in a 120-114 victory as Stephen Curry watched from the bench.
Magic 123, Pelicans110
Hawks 139, Knicks 124
Mavericks 115, Heat 90
Warriors 120, Cavaliers 114
Clippers 131, Spurs 126
Nets 117, Jazz 106
Nuggets 134, Pacers 111
Lakers 122, Grizzlies 121
Kings 118, Thunder 113
Warriors star Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green all sat out the contest a day after the NBA champions’ heartbreaking overtime loss to the Celtics in Boston.
But with 32 points from Poole and 22 from Ty Jerome the Warriors came away unlikely winners ˗ their first road victory this season over a team with a winning record.
The Warriors set the tone when they connected on seven of eight three-pointers in the first quarter, and their 14 first-half three-pointers matched the most ever by a Cleveland opponent for one half.
There was no let-up after the break, the Warriors quickly pushing a five-point halftime lead to as many as 20 in a third quarter that featured another six three-pointers from the Warriors.
Cleveland sliced the deficit to four with two minutes remaining, but Jerome promptly drained another three-pointer and the Warriors were off again.
Poole, the only regular Warriors starter in action Friday, finished with five three-pointers. Anthony Lamb had four and Jerome had three — as did Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green, who was back in action after missing 14 games.
Jonathan Kuminga also returned for Golden State after missing eight games with a sprained foot.
“It’s just a night where a bunch of guys came in and played with confidence, played with force,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “When you get a win like this, and everybody feels good about themselves in their own game, it gives you a little boost.”
Kerr was unrepentant about sitting his starters, saying banged up players had to be given a chance to rest or risk injury that could significantly hamper their season or playoffs.
– Doncic fuels Mavs –
In Dallas, the Mavericks’ MVP candidate Luka Doncic scored 34 points — making five of his eight three-point attempts — with 12 rebounds and seven assists in a 115-90 rout of the Miami Heat.
The Mavs needed little else offensively as they stepped things up on the defensive end to snap a three-game skid.
Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 18 points and Tyler Herro added 16 as star Jimmy Butler was held to 12.
Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard scored 36 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 131-126 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
In Atlanta, the Hawks used a fourth-quarter scoring burst to break open a close game, pulling away for a 139-124 victory over the New York Knicks.
Dejounte Murray scored 29 points and Trae Young added 27 for the Hawks, who led 102-101 going into the final period, which they opened on a 20-4 scoring run to take a 17-point lead.
Julius Randle paced New York with 32 points but was scoreless in the fourth quarter.
The Orlando Magic also finished strong, out-scoring the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans 35-19 in the fourth quarter for a 123-110 home victory.
