Curry, Durant fuel Warriors’ seventh-straight win
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant combined for 61 points as the two-time defending champions Golden State Warriors won their seventh-straight with a 116-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Durant delivered 33 points and 13 rebounds and Curry contributed 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Klay Thompson scored 22 points and hit consecutive three-pointers 50 seconds apart early in the fourth quarter to give Golden State a 91-89 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Durant made his first half-dozen shots, and eight of the first 11 en route to 20 points in a productive first half.
Derrick Rose played five minutes in the first quarter and scored three points, but then came out of the game with a sore ankle. The injury came two nights after he scored a career-high 50 points in a victory against Utah. He was due to be looked at by team doctors yesterday.
Andrew Wiggins scored a team-high 22 points for the Timberwolves who were outrebounded 61-39.
Jimmy Butler scored 21 for Minnesota after sitting out Wednesday to rest. Tyus Jones also returned and had eight points on three-for-11 shooting after missing the win over the Jazz because of a sore right foot.
Before the game, Kerr said injured DeMarcus Cousins is still a long way from returning.
Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard delivered 19 points as the Toronto Raptors extended their best start in franchise history by beating the hapless Phoenix Suns 107-98.
In New York, Chris Paul tallied 32 points and 11 rebounds as the Houston Rockets busted out of a slump with a 119-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.