Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry shook off slow starts to finish with a flurry as the Golden State Warriors extended their franchise-best winning streak to 14 games by beating the Houston Rockets 105-93 on Wednesday night.
Thompson scored 21 points, while Curry added 20 points, seven assists and seven rebounds to power an 11-0 run in the final minutes and turn a tight game into another comfortable win. Golden State improved their NBA-best record to 19-2 and helped Steve Kerr became the first rookie coach to win 19 of his first 21 games.
James Harden played through back pain to finish with 34 points and eight rebounds for the Rockets, who had won four straight and seven of eight, despite Dwight Howard being sidelined.
Photo: EPA
Howard (strained right knee) and Warriors center Andrew Bogut (right knee tendinitis) both sat out.
Harrison Barnes finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, while reserve Marreese Speights had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors. Trevor Ariza and Donatas Motiejunas each scored 18 for the Rockets.
SPURS 109, KNICKS 95
In San Antonio, Texas, Marco Belinelli scored a season-high 22 points as short-handed San Antonio rolled to victory over the New York Knicks, who lost their 10th straight.
San Antonio, playing without their Big Four, were 10 for 19 on three-pointers and shot 50 percent overall. The Spurs had seven players in double figures, getting 13 points from Danny Green and 12 from Boris Diaw.
San Antonio were without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard.
Parker (left hamstring) and Leonard (bruised right hand) were injured, but Duncan and Ginobili sat out to rest on the second night of back-to-back games.
Tim Hardaway Jr scored 23 points on nine-for-18 shooting for the Knicks (4-20). New York were without Carmelo Anthony, who had soreness in his left knee after playing 39 minutes in a loss on Tuesday at New Orleans.
HAWKS 95, 76ERS 79
In Atlanta, Georgia, Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap each scored 17 points as Atlanta beat Philadelphia for their eighth straight victory — the Hawks’ longest winning streak in 17 years.
Korver sank five three-pointers as Atlanta (15-6) posted their best streak since an 11-0 start to the 1997-1998 season.
DeMarre Carroll had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta. The Hawks averaged 104 points in their first seven wins of the streak, but relied on defense against Philadelphia.
Alexey Shved had 13 points to lead the 76ers, who have won two of four since their 0-17 start. Luc Mbah a Moute had 12 points, while K.J. McDaniels and Jerami Grant each had 10.
HORNETS 96, CELTICS 87
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Al Jefferson had 23 points and 14 rebounds as Charlotte withstood Boston’s fourth-quarter rally to win.
Kemba Walker added 18 points, and Lance Stephenson had 13 for the Hornets, who led by 12 points in the third quarter and were up 87-79 with 8 minutes, 5 seconds left.
The Celtics — led by Marcus Thornton’s 13 fourth-quarter points — pulled to 87-85 with 4:31 remaining. However, Walker’s three-point play and back-to-back baskets by Jefferson pushed Charlotte’s lead to 94-85 with 1:19 left.
Rajon Rondo had a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Celtics. Jeff Green and Thornton led Boston with 16 points each, Tyler Zeller scored 13 and Brandon Bass 10.
Charlotte trailed by five at halftime before opening the third quarter with an 11-4 run.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Wizards 91, Magic 89
‧ Clippers 103, Pacers 96
‧ Bulls 105, Nets 80
‧ Mavericks 112, Pelicans 107
‧ Timberwolves 90, Trail Blazers 82
‧ Nuggets 102, Heat 82
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