Stephen Curry scores 45, Warriors hold off Clippers 115-113
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Stephen Curry raised his arms, waved to acknowledge the adoring fans as shot after shot dropped through the net and screamed in celebration - no trash about it.
Curry hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 56.8 seconds remaining to follow up a 30-footer less than a minute earlier, and he relished every bit of his 45-point home opener that lifted the Golden State Warriors over the Los Angeles Clippers 115-113 on Thursday night.
Curry bounced back from a sub-par outing in the season opener by his high standards.
''I never worry about my shot. Ever,'' he said.
The reigning NBA scoring champion even secured a key rebound with 36 seconds left before calmly converting a pair of free throws with less than 5 seconds left, scoring eight points over the final 1:54.
Fans cheered Curry well after the game ended until he finally disappeared down the tunnel.
''Steph Curry was just Steph Curry, there's never been anybody like him,'' coach Steve Kerr said. ''Those last two 3s were ridiculous. ... I'm still blown away.''
Chants of ''MVP!'' began late in the first quarter, and by the time the buzzer sounded to finish the initial period, Curry already had topped his total from two nights earlier with 25 points on 9-of-9 shooting and five 3-pointers as Golden State built a 44-27 lead.
''I don't know if I've had a perfect start like that before, but it was just a good flow from the jump,'' Curry said.
Curry wound up 16 of 25 from the floor and 8 for 13 from deep with 10 rebounds.
On Tuesday, the two-time MVP shot just 5 for 21 - making 2 of 8 3s - on the way to 21 points in a road win against the Lakers on Tuesday night in a performance that he called ''trash.''
Curry corrected himself Thursday: ''I should have just said I shot the ball like trash and still found a way to try to impact the game.''
''You know Steph, when he has a poor shooting night, he's always coming back strong,'' Kerr said.
Damion Lee hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5:55 remaining and scored 11 points off the bench while Andrew Wiggins added 17 points and six rebounds.
Paul George had 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the Clippers' season opener, and Eric Bledsoe scored 22 points. Los Angeles fought back from a 19-point deficit in the second quarter to take a 67-66 lead into halftime while capitalizing on Warriors' turnovers.
''Steph is going to have those quarters when he goes off, but you've got to stay the course and I thought our team did that tonight,'' Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
The 33-year-old Curry, who earlier in the day was named one of the top 75 NBA players of all time, dazzled in the first home game of his 13th NBA season after taking the mic before tipoff and thanking the fans for their support and patience through the coronavirus pandemic and welcoming them back to Chase Center.
He returned with 7:43 left in the second, made another jumper and finally missed a 3-point try at the 4:55 mark.
''This is going to be a great, great season back in Chase Center,'' Curry told the crowd before tipoff, adding, ''Can't wait to welcome Klay Thompson back.''
Draymond Green exited in the third and headed to the locker room with a right wrist injury having missed six of seven free throws but later returned.
''He responded beautifully,'' Kerr said.
This is a new beginning of sorts for the Warriors, who lost in the play-in game to Memphis, given they finally have fans back at the start of a season. The sellout crowd marked the first regular-season game at full capacity since March 2020.
''Two years ago was such a bizarre season with all the injuries and the brand-new venue. It did seem strange,'' Kerr said. ''Last year the whole world was strange. It does feel like a fresh start.''
TIP-INS
Clippers: George received a technical foul 2:21 before halftime. ... The Clippers took care of the ball, committing only seven turnovers while taking advantage of the Warriors' mistakes. ... LA, which had its highest 3-point percentage in franchise history last season at 41.1%, shot 6 for 16 from deep in the first half and 14 of 40 overall.
Warriors: Curry's 25 points in the first matched a career high for that quarter. ... Golden State committed 21 turnovers, six by Curry and seven from Jordan Poole. ... Forward Andre Iguodala received a rousing ovation when introduced before the game and again when he checked in for the first time late in the firsts quarter. The 37-year-old Iguodala, who helped Golden State win the 2015 championship on his way to becoming the NBA Finals MVP and then two more titles, signed a one-year deal. ... Thompson is working back from surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon and hopeful of playing in late November or early December.
HONORING ATTLES
The Warriors are honoring someone each home game during their 75th anniversary season, and it was Hall of Famer Al Attles for the opener.
The 84-year-old Attles presented the game ball to the officials before the game.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Host the Grizzlies on Saturday in their home opener.
Warriors: At Sacramento on Sunday having lost their last two road games against former top assistant Luke Walton and the Kings.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Ivica Zubac vs. Kevon Looney (Jordan Poole gains possession) | |||
11:50 | Eric Bledsoe personal foul (Stephen Curry draws the foul) | |||
11:35 | Jordan Poole misses three point jump shot | |||
11:30 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
11:16 | Kevon Looney blocks Ivica Zubac's two point layup | |||
11:13 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
11:07 | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 0-3 | |
10:50 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe makes two point driving layup | 2-3 | |
10:41 | +3 | Andrew Wiggins makes three point jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 2-6 | |
10:20 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe makes two point jump shot | 4-6 | |
10:06 | Jordan Poole turnover (bad pass) (Reggie Jackson steals) | |||
10:06 | Kevon Looney personal foul (Take) (Reggie Jackson draws the foul) | |||
9:53 | Eric Bledsoe misses three point step back jump shot | |||
9:50 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
9:46 | +3 | Andrew Wiggins makes three point jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 4-9 | |
9:29 | Paul George misses two point jump shot | |||
9:28 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
9:28 | Kevon Looney personal foul (Loose ball) (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | |||
9:24 | Reggie Jackson misses two point layup | |||
9:21 | Reggie Jackson offensive rebound | |||
9:18 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point dunk (Reggie Jackson assists) | 6-9 | |
9:07 | Andrew Wiggins turnover | |||
8:54 | +3 | Andrew Wiggins makes three point jump shot (Kevon Looney assists) | 6-12 | |
8:40 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point hook shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 8-12 | |
8:29 | Stephen Curry turnover (bad pass) (Paul George steals) | |||
8:28 | Draymond Green personal foul (Eric Bledsoe draws the foul) | |||
8:24 | +2 | Paul George makes two point jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists) | 10-12 | |
8:10 | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point layup (Draymond Green assists) | 10-14 | |
8:09 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
7:54 | Reggie Jackson misses two point jump shot | |||
7:52 | Stephen Curry defensive rebound | |||
7:44 | Paul George personal foul (Draymond Green draws the foul) | |||
7:42 | Marcus Morris Sr. personal foul (Andrew Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
7:34 | Andrew Wiggins misses three point jump shot | |||
7:30 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
7:23 | +2 | Paul George makes two point driving layup | 12-14 | |
7:15 | Eric Bledsoe shooting foul (Andrew Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
7:15 | +1 | Andrew Wiggins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-15 | |
7:15 | +1 | Andrew Wiggins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-16 | |
7:05 | Reggie Jackson turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Poole steals) | |||
7:02 | Jordan Poole turnover (bad pass) (Marcus Morris Sr. steals) | |||
6:57 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point dunk (Luke Kennard assists) | 14-16 | |
6:38 | +3 | Jordan Poole makes three point jump shot (Andrew Wiggins assists) | 14-19 | |
6:23 | +2 | Luke Kennard makes two point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 16-19 | |
6:17 | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point jump shot (Draymond Green assists) | 16-22 | |
5:59 | +2 | Paul George makes two point driving layup | 18-22 | |
5:53 | Jordan Poole turnover (traveling) | |||
5:40 | Terance Mann misses three point jump shot | |||
5:35 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
5:23 | Jordan Poole misses three point jump shot | |||
5:21 | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | |||
5:12 | +3 | Marcus Morris Sr. makes three point jump shot (Luke Kennard assists) | 21-22 | |
4:58 | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point driving layup | 21-24 | |
4:39 | Luke Kennard misses three point jump shot | |||
4:37 | Nemanja Bjelica defensive rebound | |||
4:28 | +2 | Nemanja Bjelica makes two point dunk (Jordan Poole assists) | 21-26 | |
4:06 | +2 | Marcus Morris Sr. makes two point turnaround jump shot | 23-26 | |
3:50 | +2 | Nemanja Bjelica makes two point layup (Stephen Curry assists) | 23-28 | |
3:34 | Draymond Green shooting foul (Marcus Morris Sr. draws the foul) | |||
3:34 | +1 | Marcus Morris Sr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-28 | |
3:34 | Warriors 60 second timeout | |||
3:34 | +1 | Marcus Morris Sr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-28 | |
3:19 | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point step back jump shot | 25-31 | |
2:53 | Marcus Morris Sr. misses two point jump shot | |||
2:49 | Andre Iguodala defensive rebound | |||
2:47 | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point jump shot | 25-34 | |
2:33 | Luke Kennard misses three point jump shot | |||
2:30 | Otto Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
2:25 | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point jump shot | 25-36 | |
2:23 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
2:03 | Stephen Curry blocks Paul George's three point jump shot | |||
2:01 | Stephen Curry defensive rebound | |||
1:59 | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point layup | 25-38 | |
1:45 | Paul George misses two point driving layup | |||
1:42 | Andre Iguodala defensive rebound | |||
1:36 | Justise Winslow personal foul (Stephen Curry draws the foul) | |||
1:36 | +1 | Stephen Curry makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-39 | |
1:36 | +1 | Stephen Curry makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-40 | |
1:24 | +2 | Justise Winslow makes two point reverse layup (Paul George assists) | 27-40 | |
1:03 | Amir Coffey shooting foul (Damion Lee draws the foul) | |||
1:03 | Damion Lee misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:03 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
1:03 | +1 | Damion Lee makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-41 | |
0:48 | Paul George turnover (lost ball) (Stephen Curry steals) | |||
0:42 | Otto Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
0:39 | Amir Coffey defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | Luke Kennard misses three point jump shot | |||
0:35 | Terance Mann offensive rebound | |||
0:30 | Amir Coffey misses three point jump shot | |||
0:30 | Nemanja Bjelica defensive rebound | |||
0:09 | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point jump shot (Andre Iguodala assists) | 27-44 | |
0:01 | Terance Mann misses two point step back jump shot | |||
0:00 | Justise Winslow offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:41 | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Luke Kennard assists) | 30-44 | |
11:16 | Jordan Poole misses three point jump shot | |||
11:14 | Justise Winslow defensive rebound | |||
11:01 | Jordan Poole personal foul (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
10:56 | Justise Winslow offensive foul (Andre Iguodala draws the foul) | |||
10:56 | Justise Winslow turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:41 | Jordan Poole turnover (bad pass) (Terance Mann steals) | |||
10:35 | Damion Lee shooting foul (Amir Coffey draws the foul) | |||
10:35 | +1 | Amir Coffey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-44 | |
10:35 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
10:35 | +1 | Amir Coffey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-44 | |
10:12 | +2 | Otto Porter Jr. makes two point floating jump shot (Juan Toscano-Anderson assists) | 32-46 | |
9:51 | Reggie Jackson misses two point floating jump shot | |||
9:48 | Otto Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
9:35 | +2 | Jordan Poole makes two point layup (Otto Porter Jr. assists) | 32-48 | |
9:25 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe makes two point reverse layup | 34-48 | |
9:14 | +2 | Andre Iguodala makes two point dunk (Juan Toscano-Anderson assists) | 34-50 | |
9:06 | Juan Toscano-Anderson shooting foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | |||
9:06 | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-50 | |
9:06 | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-50 | |
8:53 | Otto Porter Jr. turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:38 | Andre Iguodala blocks Eric Bledsoe's two point driving layup | |||
8:35 | Jordan Poole defensive rebound | |||
8:33 | +2 | Otto Porter Jr. makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jordan Poole assists) | 36-52 | |
8:07 | Jordan Poole shooting foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | |||
8:07 | Ivica Zubac misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:07 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
8:07 | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-52 | |
7:54 | +3 | Juan Toscano-Anderson makes three point jump shot (Jordan Poole assists) | 37-55 | |
7:43 | Jordan Poole personal foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | |||
7:43 | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-55 | |
7:43 | Ivica Zubac misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:41 | Otto Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:30 | Stephen Curry offensive foul (Charge) (Eric Bledsoe draws the foul) | |||
7:30 | Stephen Curry turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:20 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe makes two point layup (Paul George assists) | 40-55 | |
7:20 | Juan Toscano-Anderson shooting foul (Eric Bledsoe draws the foul) | |||
7:20 | Eric Bledsoe misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
7:15 | Draymond Green defensive rebound | |||
7:04 | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point floating jump shot (Damion Lee assists) | 40-57 | |
6:51 | Paul George turnover (lost ball) (Andre Iguodala steals) | |||
6:48 | +2 | Andre Iguodala makes two point dunk | 40-59 | |
6:40 | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:40 | Andre Iguodala defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | Juan Toscano-Anderson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:27 | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | |||
6:11 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe makes two point jump shot | 42-59 | |
6:04 | Stephen Curry turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
5:49 | Marcus Morris Sr. offensive foul (Charge) (Draymond Green draws the foul) | |||
5:49 | Marcus Morris Sr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:33 | +2 | Nemanja Bjelica makes two point dunk (Moses Moody assists) | 42-61 | |
5:24 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe makes two point floating jump shot | 44-61 | |
5:08 | Andrew Wiggins turnover (bad pass) (Eric Bledsoe steals) | |||
5:04 | Paul George misses three point jump shot | |||
4:58 | Nemanja Bjelica defensive rebound | |||
4:55 | Stephen Curry misses three point jump shot | |||
4:50 | Marcus Morris Sr. defensive rebound | |||
4:45 |