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Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (No. 35) blocks the shot of Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (R) during the second half of their NBA game in Oakland, California, Monday. - AP[/caption]OAKLAND, California - Stephen Curry 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 champion Cleveland Cavaliers Monday.
Klay Thompson scored 26 points with five 3s for the Warriors, 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 LeBron James in the process.
James had 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting and eight rebounds. He and Green got into their latest altercation with 6:55 left in the first half and the Warriors leading 52-35 when James collided with Green near midcourt, resulting in a flagrant 1 foul on Golden State’s emotional All-Star.
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 squandered a 14-point lead and lost 109-108 in Cleveland.
76ers 113, Bucks 104: Joel Embiid recorded his eighth double-double of the season, finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds in Philadelphia’s victory over Milwaukee at the Bradley Center.
Embiid, who also blocked five shots, scored 12 in the final quarter as Philadelphia pulled away for its fourth victory in the last five games and just the 76ers’ fifth victory of the season on the road.
Wizards 120, Trail Blazers 101: Bradley Beal scored 25 points and the Wizards piled up 75points in the first half as they cruised to a win over Portland.
John Wall had 24 points for the Wizards, who have won 12 straight home games and five of their last six overall.
Hawks 108, Knicks 107: Dennis Schroder nailed a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left to overcome a two-point deficit and help Atlanta to its ninth win in its last 10 games.
After Schroder’s basket put the Hawks ahead 108-107, the Knicks missed their final three shots.
Pacers 98, Pelicans 95: Paul George scored 19 points and the Pacers held on for the win.
Tyreke Evans missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer from the right corner as time expired, sealing the victory for the Pacers, who got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Myles Turner.
Nuggets 125, Magic 112: Nikola Jokic scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Denver.
Emmanuel Mudiay had 18 points and a career-high 13 assists, and Kenneth Faried scored 20 points for the Nuggets, who had 33 assists.
Celtics 108, Hornets 98: Isaiah Thomas warmed up with 18 points in the first three quarters and then did his usual fourth-quarter thing, powering Boston to a victory over Charlotte that sent the Hornets to their fifth straight loss.
Jazz 106, Suns 101: Joe Johnson scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 49 seconds left, and Utah held off Phoenix.
Rudy Gobert led seven Utah players in double figures with 18 points. He added 17 rebounds and blocked a Marquese Chriss shot with eight seconds left to secure the win for the Jazz.
Clippers 120, Thunder 98: Despite losing point guard Chris Paul in the first half, Los Angeles didn’t miss a beat in pounding Oklahoma City.
DeAndre Jordan collected 19 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks, and the Clippers captured their seventh consecutive win with a rout of the Thunder at Staples Center.
