Reigning MVP Steph Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a big lead over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night with five ridiculous three-pointers en route to 19 first-quarter points. In the current era of small ball, three-point shooting, and fastbreaks, the Warriors dominate because they have mastered those aspects of the game. The nine straight wins have come by an average of 16.9 points, and the four played in Oakland have been by 22.2. Their hot start is fueled by their best player and MVP Stephen Curry, who has seemed to take his game to other worldly new heights. He has also already made 90 three-pointers, which puts him on pace to make nearly 400 threes. Curry poured in 28 points and racked up five assists, five rebounds and five rebounds to lead the Warriors to a 100-84 win against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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It was Covington who initiated a Sixers’ comeback from a 16-point deficit late in the third quarter, capping that period with a three-point play that got Philadelphia rolling.
“You see several times when there is a missed shot”, he said, “they get an offensive rebound, that ball is not in the offensive rebounder’s hands more than a half a second and then they find Curry somewhere”.
“I think it has a lot to do with it, being fresh – or fresher”, said the 31-year-old swingman.
Curry went on to admit how much he enjoys watching Messi play, and spoke of the appreciation he has for the forward.
“We’re rolling right now”, said reserve guard Leandro Barbosa, who made all five of his three-pointers while scoring 21 points.
Draymond Green had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his third career triple-double, two this season. Speaking to ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin, James said Golden State is “the most healthy team I’ve ever seen in National Basketball Association history”. “We both have a creative style, where it’s just about a feel when you’re out on the pitch or the court”.
With the 3-point line transformed into a layup line, the Suns stood little chance of pulling off the upset from the very start.
Covington buried the first of three consecutive Sixers threes before forward Jerami Grant (18 points) carried the torch with two free throws that tied the score at 93 with 9min 32sec left.
“I’m always looking for ’em, me personally”, point guard Shaun Livingston said of setting up 3-point shooters. He’s such a good guy, he really is happy for all the success we’re having right now.
“Just playing my game and being aggressive when I’m out there”, he told the media afterward. “They still got to put it in the hole, but our defense wasn’t there putting any pressure on them”.
Warriors: F Harrison Barnes (L ankle sprain) and F Kevon Looney (hip surgery) are listed as out.
“It was kind of a bittersweet victory with one of our teammates going down”, Livingston said. Golden State had a 75-57 lead at the break after matching its highest-scoring half in a so-far ideal season. We have so many options, so many weapons.
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1995-96 Bulls’ record through 17 games: 15-2. So before we can worry about the longest road trip of the season, (Warriors have another seven game road trip in February) we must focus our attention to the Utah Jazz.
