Curry scores 37 as Warriors beat 76ers at home
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) center, drops a 3-pointer against Philadelphia 76ers in the 4th quarter during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.01.30 – Stephen Curry scored 37 points with eight 3-pointers, Jonathan Kuminga added 26 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-107 on Tuesday night as guard Klay Thompson sat out with an illness.
Curry wowed a crowd that included several representatives from the Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers — including Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk — for whom Curry and Green signed autographs while departing the court.
Since Draymond Green returned from his second suspension of the season, the Warriors have begun looking like their balanced, ball-sharing selves again.
Curry is thriving as usual, Andrew Wiggins is working back into dominant form after a slow start, and Kuminga is emerging as an electrifying play-maker.
“It’s fun,” Green said, “I think it’s starting to come together for us now. We’ve just got to string some wins together.”
Curry, who also had eight rebounds and seven assists, shot 12 for 17 in his third straight 30-point game. It was his third consecutive game with six or more 3s and his sixth in a row with at least 25 points.
He hit two straight 3s midway through the third as Golden State went ahead 69-57 and finished with 15 points in the period.
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (NBA Video highlights)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry dribbles against Philadelphia 76ers’ Danuel House, Jr. in 1st quarter during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (NBA Video highlights)
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (NBA Video highlights)
Wiggins added 23 points, five rebounds and four assists. Coach Steve Kerr credits Green for lifting up Kuminga and Wiggins — “telling us to keep going, no matter what,” Kuminga said.
“Draymond really changed things with his return because he connects those guys at both ends of the floor, just with his communication defensively and the way he helps get us organized offensively,” Kerr said. “Great to see Wiggs and JK both playing so well and playing well together. It’s fun, you can see the team we’re shifting a little bit with how we’re playing and who we’re playing.”
A sprained left ankle kept Philadelphia standout guard Tyrese Maxey from playing altogether while a sore knee obviously hampered Joel Embiid, who harmlessly labored for three-plus quarters up and down the floor. He hardly pressured the paint, content instead to take all but one of his shots from outside the restricted area.
Tobias Harris had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Embiid scored 14 points for the Sixers before limping to the locker room with 4:04 left to a standing ovation after Kuminga fell on his left leg. Coach Nick Nurse said the center would have an MRI exam Wednesday.
Green was effusive Tuesday in his praise of 76ers center Embiid, the supremely skilled 7-footer doubling for the third consecutive season as the NBA’s leading scorer.
“You just try to make it tough on him. You want to try to make the shots that he’s getting tough,” said Green after guarding him for the better part of his 29 minutes.
“You don’t lock a player like Joel Embiid down.”
The collective Warriors’ defense held Embiid — averaging 36 points in 33 preceding games — to 5-for-18 shooting and 14 points in 30 minutes littered with eight turnovers. A collision forced him to walk gingerly off the floor with 4:04 to play, at which time the Warriors had opened a 14-point lead.
Said Curry, detailing a spirited defensive effort not befitting of the NBA’s 23rd-rated defense: “It does require a team effort. It requires you giving up something. … You’ve just got to continue to send bodies at him and make it as tough as possible.”
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (NBC Sports Post Game)
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green gets knocked back by Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid in 2nd quarter during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (NBC Sports Post Game)
It was an important win for the Warriors to end their home-stand following two straight one-point losses against 2023 playoff opponents — 145-144 to the Lakers in double overtime on Saturday night after a 134-133 loss to Sacramento on Thursday.
The 76ers dropped their fourth straight following a six-game winning streak. They hoped to have Maxey return for the second night of a back-to-back but he sat out his third straight game with a sprained left ankle.
Wiggins made his first five shots and scored in double figures for the sixth time in seven games as Golden State won for just the third time in nine games. Kuminga extended his career-best streak of games with 20 or more points to seven. He has reached double figures in 24 consecutive games, also his most.
Green encourages Kuminga by telling him, “There is nobody in the world who can stop you.”
Brandin Podziemski replaced Thompson — the Warriors’ 16th different starting lineup this season — and scored 11 on the day he was named to the All-Star Weekend Rising Stars roster. He drew his 20th charge, second-most in the league.
Dario Saric dished out seven of Golden State’s 32 assists and Green had six to go with nine points and six rebounds.
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (Locked On Post Game)
Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga loses the ball against Philadelphia 76ers’ Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid in 1st quarter during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (Locked On Post Game)
2024.01.30 – Warriors vs. Sixers (Locked On Post Game)
Warriors guard Moses Moody is likely to return from injury during the upcoming road trip. He has been cleared to practice after straining his left calf Jan. 10. Chris Paul can begin light on-court individual workouts wearing a splint on his surgically repaired left hand that he injured Jan. 5. The Warriors said he would be re-evaluated again in two weeks.
UP NEXT
76ers: At Utah on Thursday night to conclude a four-game road trip.
Warriors: At Memphis on Friday night to begin a five-game trip that includes a rematch in Philadelphia on Feb. 7.
Related – See : Is Klay back? Warriors beat Bulls in Chicago
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Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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