OAKLAND (California) • Stephen Curry turned an offensive rebound into a three-point play to highlight a 10-point, fourth-quarter spurt, as the Golden State Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 to tie the all-time National Basketball Association (NBA) record for consecutive home wins on Thursday.
The Warriors' second win over the Thunder in six days was their 44th in a row at Oracle Arena, allowing them to match the record set by the Chicago Bulls from March 30, 1995 to April 4, 1996.
"You can't even dream that stuff up," said Golden State coach Steve Kerr, who played on those Chicago teams. "It's been that kind of season for us."
The win also capped a three-game, season-series sweep for the Warriors (55-5) over the Thunder (42-20). Those games included a 121-118 Warriors win in overtime at Oklahoma City on Saturday.
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44
Number of consecutive wins the Golden State Warriors have chalked up at their home stadium, the Oracle Arena, where they are unbeaten so far this season.
As was the case last week, the Thunder held a fourth-quarter lead before the Warriors, who have set the best record in NBA history after 59 games, rallied.
Golden State, who trailed by as many as nine in the third quarter and were down 82-83 entering the final period, took the lead for good on back-up guard Shaun Livingston's two free throws in the first minute of the final quarter.
"Our second unit got us off to a fourth-quarter lead and they turned the momentum in our favour," Curry said of the Warriors' bench, which outscored the Thunder's bench 32-25.
The advantage was just 99-97 before Draymond Green scored from the interior with 5min 47sec left, triggering the game-breaking, 10-0 run.
Curry's key play came after backcourt mate Klay Thompson had misfired on a three-point attempt.
The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player grabbed the rebound, circled back to the top of the key before changing directions and using an Andrew Bogut screen to get to the rim for a lay-up on which he was fouled.
His successful free throw completed the three-point play, pushing the Golden State lead to 106-97 and setting the stage for a runaway finish.
Curry finished with a game-high 33 points on his return to action after missing Tuesday's win over the Atlanta Hawks with a sore ankle.
Thompson added 21 points on 10-for-19 shooting, and Green contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Kevin Durant had 32 points and Russell Westbrook 22 for the Thunder, but each had more than his usual fair share of problems.
Durant, who also found time for 10 rebounds and nine assists, committed nine turnovers.
Westbrook, meanwhile, hit only eight of his 24 shots, including one of eight from three-point range.
"We've definitely got to get it under control," Durant said after their sixth loss in eight games.
"I'm not happy with the way we're playing. Obviously we want to win, but this is where you see what you're made of."
REUTERS
