NEW YORK • The all-conquering Golden State Warriors outran the Brooklyn Nets at the start and the end of their latest win.
In between, there were some dicey moments but the Warriors had just the man to bail them out.
Golden State improved to 22-0 this National Basketball Association season on Sunday with a 114-98 victory over the Nets.
Guard Stephen Curry scored 11 of his 28 points in the final 2:10 of the third quarter.
The Warriors opened the game with a 25-8 lead and held a 15-point lead with 1:49 left in the first half.
Curry put on a scoring spree after Golden State faced a trio of five-point deficits.
His timely contribution featured a mix of aggressive moves and effective perimeter play.
"It's pretty purposeful just trying to see if I can get some room and figure out a way to impact the game," Curry said.
"We like to close quarters out strong, and we were obviously able to do that, get a nice lead and not look back from there."
A minute after guard Shane Larkin's three-pointer gave the Nets a 75-70 lead, Curry hit a driving bank shot for a 76-76 deadlock.
On the next possession, he gave the Warriors the lead for good with an uncontested three-pointer.
The reigning Most Valuable Player finished the quarter by finding centre Festus Ezeli for an alley-oop dunk. Curry then converted a three-point play and knocked down a three-pointer with 1.9 seconds left for an 87-80 edge.
Said Brooklyn coach Lionel Hollins of Curry: "When he needed to, he stepped up and put the dagger in us. He's a great player."
The Warriors did not look back, seizing control early in the fourth quarter due to their reserves.
While Curry helped the Warriors finish off the win, Klay Thompson got it started. He scored 12 of his 21 points when Golden State dominated the opening quarter.
Forward Draymond Green finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Golden State shot 51 per cent and made 14 of 33 three-pointers while getting a standing ovation from most of the fans at the Barclays Center after the final buzzer.
The Warriors posted their 26th consecutive regular-season victory dating to April 9 and their 12th road win of the season.
Forward Thaddeus Young led the Nets with 25 points, with two of his baskets giving the Nets leads of 66-61 and 68-63 a few minutes before Curry's flurry.
Centre Brook Lopez added 18 points three weeks after missing the game-winner in regulation of Brooklyn's eight-point overtime loss at Golden State.
REUTERS
