SAN FRANCISCO –
The Golden State Warriors play dominant basketball in stretches and then battle it out on defense in others.
Stephen Curry scored 28 of his 33 points in an 89-point first half, and the defending champion beat former top assist Mike Brown and his Sacramento Kings 130-125 Sunday night.
Curry, who recorded his third straight 30-point performance earlier in the season, had 21 points with five 3s in the second quarter and shot 11 for 22 overall, including 7 from 12 on 3s. The reigning MVP of the NBA Finals helped Golden State earn the third-most points in each half in franchise history and the second-most in a first half. The Warriors’ 50 points in the second quarter was a franchise record and tied for the third most points in any period.
“It was fun, 89 points in the first half, that’s crazy,” said Jordan Poole.
Curry has three straight 30-point games to start a season for the second time in his career, also in 2018-19.
Sacramento reduced a 26-point deficit to four on Chimezie Metus dunk with 1:04 left before Golden State held.
“We played brilliantly at times and just couldn’t keep it up,” said coach Steve Kerr. “It was closer than it should have been, but I give Sacramento a lot of credit. Mike is doing a great job with these guys. They fight, they compete. They now had three close losses to start the year. … We let our guard down and they took advantage of it.”
Andrew Wiggins added 24 points with a driving slam to beat the final buzzer and Poole also scored 24 points as the Warriors shot 51.7%. Klay Thompson was held to eight points in 3-for-10 shooting.
De’Aaron Fox had 26 after two 30-point games and Domantas Sabonis contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds but didn’t play in the fourth for the winless Sacramento (0-3) on the second night of a consecutive game. The Kings, who lost 111-109 at home to the Clippers Saturday night, attempted 100 shots on Sunday and their three losses were decided by 14 total points.
“We can’t give up 50 points in the second quarter or no quarter at all,” said guard Malik Monk. “It’s hard to win an NBA game like that.”
Brown, in his first year as Kings coach, received his championship ring from Kerr in a pregame ceremony on the court alongside Sacramento’s assistant Leandro Barbosa, who was also part of the Warriors’ fourth title in eight years.
BROWN’S RETURN
Brown came down the hall from the visitors’ changing room and crept up to Kerr, then they giggled and hugged.
Brown, 52, stepped in for three playoff games for Kerr last spring when the Golden State coach had COVID-19. Brown also went 11-0 and led the Warriors through postseason games during the team’s 2017 title run while Kerr struggled with debilitating symptoms stemming from complications from back surgery. Kerr returned for Game 2 of the NBA Finals that year.
“Mike is brilliant. He just has so much energy, so much love for the game, love for his job, for his work,” Kerr said. “He brings his enthusiasm with him every day and we’ve enjoyed that so much over the past five, six years, no matter how long he’s been here, and he and I really were a perfect couple. He sort of covered my weaknesses and complemented me really well. I just loved being around him. I’m excited for him. It’s a great opportunity.
TIP INS
kings: One night after making just 15 of 26 free throws, the Kings went 20-for-25 off the line. … Sacramento started 1 for 8 on 3s and finished 11 for 43. … Sacramento committed 46 fouls in its first two games, then 29 more on Sunday.
Warrior: G Donte DiVincenzo injured a hamstring and will not travel to Phoenix. He will be re-evaluated later in the week. … The Warriors have seven 50-point quarters. The franchise record for a half is 92 points as of October 29, 2018 in Chicago. F Andre Iguodala missed his third straight game of the season as the Warriors remain cautious with his nagging left hip.
NEXT
kings: host Memphis on Thursday.
Warrior: Visit the Suns on Tuesday.