LOS ANGELES — Reigning league MVP Stephen Curry and guard Klay Thompson combined for 75 points as the Golden State Warriors rallied to beat Miami 118-112 on Wednesday for their 14th win in the last 15 games.
Curry finished with 42 points, seven assists and seven rebounds to lead Golden State’s offensive juggernaut which recently became the quickest team in NBA history to 50 wins.
“That’s Steph and Klay and that’s what they do,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “When they both do it on the same night that is when we are tough to beat.”
The Warriors lead the league in three point accuracy and nobody does it better than Curry. He tied an NBA record Wednesday with his 127th straight game with a three-pointer. He shares the mark with Atlanta’s Kyle Korver.
The milestone basket came on his first points of the contest in front of a crowd of 19,900 at Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena. Curry can pass Korver for the record with another three-pointer when the Warriors visit Orlando Thursday.
Thompson had a streak of 15 straight Warriors points in the fourth quarter.
“We are moving the ball and playing unselfish,” said Thompson. “It is contagious. It is beautiful basketball and fun to watch.”
The Warriors also got 10 points and 11 rebounds from forward Draymond Green.
The Heat were led by guard Dwyane Wade’s 32 points — his second 30-plus game this season. The Heat also got 21 points and 13 rebounds from centre Hassan Whiteside and a career-high 15 points from guard Josh Richardson.
The Warriors have now won four straight over the Heat who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 13 and their first since the all-star break.
Curry’s last game without a 3-pointer was Nov. 11, 2014. He has made at least one in 202 of his past 203 games, and is on pace to smash the single-season record for 3-pointers he established a year ago.
Curry entered Wednesday with 260 3-pointers this season, 88 more than anyone in the league. His teammate Klay Thompson came into the night No. 2 this season in 3s, with 172.
Thunder 116, Mavericks 103
Oklahoma City is a frustrating team to play. Just when an opponent thinks it has the Thunder where they want them, their explosive offense comes alive and turns a close game into a rout.
Oklahoma City’s victory over Dallas served as the perfect example. The Thunder’s roller coaster had its typical ups and downs, leading by 10 in the first quarter and 12 in the second.
Yet Oklahoma City constantly had to fend off Dallas scoring bursts but a sluggish start to the second half saw the Thunder lose the lead for the first time in the game three minutes into the third quarter.
The Thunder reawakened and went on a tear halfway through the period, outscoring the Mavs 22-10 in the next seven minutes for a blink-of-the-eye 96-81 lead early in the fourth that they rode all the way to the finish.
Cavaliers 114, Hornets 103
LeBron James rebounded from one of his worst games of the season to score 23 points and Channing Frye had 15 points off the bench in his second game with his new team, guiding Cleveland to a victory over Charlotte on Wednesday.
James matched a season low with 12 points and committed six turnovers in Monday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons but returned to form after a little rest.
Kyrie Irving scored 23 points and J.R. Smith had 16 for the Cavs, who won for the sixth time in their last seven games. Cavs center Tristan Thompson grabbed 10 rebounds and guard Matthew Dellavedova had 10 points and seven assists off the bench.
Other results: Pacers 108, Knicks 105; Raptors 114, Timberwolves 105; Pistons 111, 76ers 91; Bulls 109, Wizards 104; Grizzlies 128, Lakers 119; Nuggets 87, Clippers 81; Spurs 108, Kings 92. — Agencies
