Stephen Curry sliced himself a piece of red velvet birthday cake in the locker room and had a quick sample, then assured everybody he has no plans of slowing down in his late 20s.
Curry had 27 points, five rebounds and five assists on his 28th birthday as the Golden State Warriors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-107 on Monday night for their record 49th straight regular-season home victory.
“I hope to keep getting better, that’s the mission, and I’ll never be satisfied with where I’m at,” Curry said. “I always want to find different ways to improve. I guess I’m officially in my prime, but we’ll see how far this thing can go.”
Photo: AP
Draymond Green added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors (60-6), who are 31-0 at Oracle Arena this season. With 16 games to go, they remain one game ahead of the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls’ pace in their record 72-win season.
“Sixty and six sounds good,” Curry said. “It’s a big accomplishment.”
Birthday songs, MVP chants, and a serenade and piece of cake from his toddler daughter, Riley, made it a great day for Curry — all after his fifth Western Conference Player of the Week award this season and his second in two weeks.
He shot four for nine from three-point range and 10 of 16 overall.
Anthony Davis had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans.
Klay Thompson added 18 points for Golden State, which swept the teams’ first-round playoff series last year 4-0.
The Warriors clinched the Pacific Division during their off day on Sunday, giving the franchise back-to-back Pacific titles for the first time since the 1974-1975 and 1975-1976 seasons.
“It’s so rare in the NBA, in your first coaching job, to inherit a great team. They had already won 50-plus before I even got here,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I’m pretty lucky to coach these guys.”
The Pelicans opened the season at Oracle Arena on Oct. 27 and New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry received his championship ring after serving as Warriors associate head coach last season as the Golden State captured their first title in 40 years.
The teams played twice in five days to start the season.
“No one plays like those guys,” said Gentry, who stopped to see Curry afterward and was gifted with two autographed hats. “All of a sudden the flood gates open and that’s what they’re capable of doing.”
The Warriors trailed 40-38 with 7 minutes, 18 seconds left before halftime, then went on a 19-6 run late in the second quarter for a 59-50 lead at the break.
Marreese Speights had 14 points and seven rebounds, while Anderson Varejao scored seven during the second quarter in a 55-point night by the reserves.
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