Stephen Curry outduels Jayson Tatum as Golden State Warriors down Boston Celtics

BOSTON – Stephen Curry insisted that Golden State are taking “baby steps”, as he outdueled Olympic teammate Jayson Tatum to help the Warriors extend their strong start to the National Basketball Association (NBA) season with a 118-112 road victory over the Boston Celtics on Nov 6.

The heavyweight clash had been billed as a chance for Tatum to make a point after being benched for multiple games by Golden State’s Team USA coach Steve Kerr during August’s gold medal-winning Paris Olympics campaign.

But while Tatum impressed after coming alive in the second half to finish with a 32-point haul, it was Curry and the Warriors (7-1) who came away with a battling victory at the TD Garden.

“Like we always say ‘Have each other’s backs’ – and guys are stepping up and committing to it,” said the Warriors point guard, who had 27 points and nine assists with seven rebounds and four steals.

“We’re capable of beating anybody. You’ve got to embrace the challenge. But this is a different year and we’re trying to take baby steps and develop an identity,” added Curry, who moved up to 30th on the NBA’s all-time scorers list, leapfrogging Charles Barkley (23,757 points).

He was given offensive support from Andrew Wiggins who scored 16 points, while Buddy Hield added 16 from the bench, along with Kyle Anderson (11 points) and Jonathan Kuminga (10).

“We’re very deep (in the squad) and you don’t know whose night it’s going to be. I love the vibe that we have but it’s only eight games – a long way to go,” Curry added.

Tatum, meanwhile, scored 24 points in the second half to help Boston (7-2) turn a 14-point third-quarter deficit into a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.

But Boston’s rally faltered down the stretch as the Warriors and Curry fought back to claim a win that leaves Golden State second in the Western Conference.

Warriors coach Kerr was given a hostile reception by Celtics fans over his handling of Tatum at the Olympics, booed loudly during pre-game introductions.

The 59-year-old, however, shrugged off the controversy in pre-game remarks with reporters, acknowledging that he “didn’t enjoy” benching Tatum in a game against Serbia in Paris.

“Those are not fun decisions,” Kerr said. “But our guys were all amazing, they committed to each other, they committed to winning a gold medal... that’s the real story.

“But we live in a time where we have to talk about stuff that actually doesn’t really matter.”

In other games, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 131-122 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on the road in Louisiana.

The Cavaliers improved their franchise record start to the season to 9-0 and are the only undefeated team left in the Eastern Conference. Donovan Mitchell led the way once more with 29 points, including three three-pointers on a night when six Cavs players finished in double figures.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (7-1) suffered their first loss of the season, 124-122 to the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists, Peyton Watson made a game-sealing block with one second left and hosts Denver (5-3) clinched the victory.

Russell Westbrook scored 29 points, Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun had 24 each and Watson finished with 10 points and three blocks for the Nuggets, who ended a four-game head-to-head losing streak against Oklahoma City.

Jokic logged his fourth triple-double of the season.

“To beat a team like OKC takes everybody, but for a 17-year vet to have that kind of a game was tremendous and I’m really happy for Russ,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of Westbrook.

In Memphis, LeBron James scored 39 points but could not stop the Los Angeles Lakers from falling to a 131-114 blowout defeat to the Grizzlies.

The home side improved to 5-4 with the win while the Lakers are now 4-4. AFP, REUTERS