Curry scores 40, Warriors top Hornets 116-99 to go 20-0

 

CHARLOTTE: Charlotte Hornets broadcaster Dell Curry told his son before Wednesday night’s game,

 

Actually, Stephen Curry ignored his father altogether.

The reigning MVP scored 40 points in three quarters and the Golden State Warriors easily defeated the Hornets 116-99 to extend the best start in NBA history to 20-0.

 

On a night when the Hornets honored Dell Curry, the franchise’s career scoring leader, with a “key to Buzz City,” it was his oldest son who stole the spotlight by hitting 14 of 18 shots from the field and going 8 for 11 from 3-point range.

 

Stephen Curry, who grew up in Charlotte and starred at nearby Davidson College, scored 28 points in the pivotal third quarter, including his team’s final 24. He hit 10 of 11 shots from the field, including all five 3s – many from well beyond the arc and in the face of a defender – to help the Warriors build a 21-point cushion.

 

He sat out the entire fourth quarter due to the big lead and didn’t get a shot to break his career high of 54

He said the 20-0 start to the season seems surreal.

 

Nicolas Batum led Charlotte with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Klay Thompson had 15 of his 21 points in the first quarter as the Warriors bolted to an early 15-point lead.

 

Despite missing the inside presence of center Al Jefferson – out at least two weeks with a strained left calf – and 0-for-8 shooting from Kemba Walker in the first half, the Hornets fought back to cut the lead to 60-51 at the break.

 

But midway through the third quarter Curry got rolling, launching deep 3-pointers, several times turning and jogging back down court well before the ball even went through the net.

Curry hit jumpers from 24, 25, 30, 29 and 30 feet in the third period.

 

It marked the fourth time this season Curry has scored 40 points by the end of the third quarter. The rest of the NBA combined has reached that mark just once.

Curry has six 40-point games already this season.

 

 

 

 

                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            Quarter by quarter               

Q1          Q2          Q3         Q4       FINAL SCORE

Charlotte Hornets                23           28          21         27                99

Golden State Warriors         32           28          33         23               116

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bryant scores 31 to lead Lakers past Wizards 108-104

 

WASHINGTON : Two games into a farewell tour that’s already included an emotional night in his home city, a visit to the White House and a vintage performance, Kobe Bryant is still getting used to all the love.

 

He got plenty of it from another sellout crowd Wednesday night and scored 12 of his season-high 31 points in the fourth quarter to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Washington Wizards 108-104.

 

Bryant finished 10 of 24 from the floor and appeared to turn back time in the last of his team’s four games in five days, shaking off a cold stretch to hit a string of critical shots in the waning minutes.

With each one, the ovations from a crowd of 20,356 mixed with Lakers and Wizards fans grew louder. By the time Bryant’s pull-up jumper sent Bradley Beal backpedaling and gave the Lakers a 103-101 lead with 30.8 seconds remaining, the Verizon Center sounded more like Staples Center in Los Angeles.

 

Bryant received a similar reception Tuesday night during a loss to the previously winless 76ers in his hometown of Philadelphia, his first game after announcing his plans to retire after the season. He shot 7 of 26 in that one and scored 20 points.

 

 

Said Wizards guard John Wall, who had 34 points and 11 assists: “We knew it was going to be that type of atmosphere. That’s what it’s going to be like wherever he goes.”

Julius Randle had 15 points and a career-best 19 rebounds for the Lakers (3-15), who hit five of their last six free throws to snap a seven-game losing streak.

 

Wall scored 15 in the fourth quarter. But after Bryant’s last basket, Wall’s errant pass was stolen by Lou Williams, one of 23 Washington turnovers.

Marcin Gortat added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards, who have dropped five of six despite erasing an early 19-point deficit.

 

 

                                                             Quarter by quarter

                                           

                                                Q1        Q2       Q3       Q4       FINAL SCORE

Los Angeles Lakers                           34         23        21         30               108

Washington Wizards                      22         29       24          29               104

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results: Golden State Warriors 116 beat Charlotte Hornets 99, Los Angeles Lakers 108 beat Washington Wizards 104,  Detroit Pistons 127 beat Phoenix Suns 122, New York Knicks 99 beat Philadelphia 76ers 87, Toronto Raptors 96 beat Atlanta Hawks 86, Chicago Bulls 99 beat Denver Nuggets 90, Houston Rockets 108 beat New Orleans Pelicans 101, San Antonio Spurs 95 beat Milwaukee Bucks 70, Indiana Pacers 103 beat Los Angeles Lakers 91