SAN FRANCISCO – Stephen Curry connected on nine 3-pointers and scored 40 points as the Golden State Warriors completed a franchise-record-tying, eight-game homestand with a 119-93 blowout win over the Chicago Bulls in San Francisco.
Andrew Wiggins had 15 points, Kevon Looney grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and Draymond Green turned in another strong all-around game for the Warriors, who opened their 16-day homestand with a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies before rattling off seven straight wins.
Zach LaVine had 23 points and DeMar DeRozan 18 for the Bulls, who began a five-game trip without Nikola Vucevic after the big man tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week.
The 40-point game was the 52nd of his career. Curry has made nine or more 3-pointers 36 times, an NBA record. James Harden and Damian Lillard are tied for the second-most such games in NBA history with nine.
“We always used to have one of the best home-court advantages in the league and we want to establish that again,” Kevon Looney said according to AP. “We’ve got full capacity now and just want to give the crowd a good show.”
Andrew Wiggins added 15 points and seven rebounds and Jordan Poole had 14 points as Golden State wrapped up an eight-game homestand that matched a franchise record. The Warriors’ lone loss came in overtime to Memphis on Oct. 28.
“In general, the high point is establishing our home floor that this is going to be a tough place to come win a game. And a lot of that is the way we´re playing, a lot of that is our fans, the energy in the building, there´s a really good vibe about the team, the fans feel it,” coach Steve Kerr said.
“Great way to start the year but now we´ve got to go out on the road and it´s going to get a lot tougher. We obviously are very happy to be where we are.”
Curry crossed over and blew right by Lonzo Ball for a short jumper in the second quarter and shot 15 for 24 in his 52nd career 40-point game. He is now the NBA’s career leader for 3-pointers in both regular season and playoffs with 3,366, passing Ray Allen (3,358).
Zach LaVine scored 23 points and DeMar DeRozan had 18 to lead the Bulls, who missed star Nikola Vucevic during his absence with COVID-19.
“So it´s snowing in Chicago on November 12th, interesting,” the veteran center posted on Twitter from home.
“It´s really our first adversity and that´s where adversity builds a lot of character,” DeRozan said.
