Any concerns about Stephen Curry’s tender ankle and the Warriors trekking to high-altitude Denver for the Part 2 of a back-to-back set were wholly unfounded.
Curry tested his right ankle prior to the game, said he felt fine and went out and proved it, scoring 33 points to lead the Warriors to a 125-101 victory over the Nuggets at Pepsi Center in Denver.
Four other Warriors scored in double figures, as Klay Thompson put in 19 points, Kevin Durant 18, Draymond Green 13 and JaVale McGee came off the bench for season-high 10 points.
The Warriors (7-2) shot 54.1 percent from the field, the third consecutive game in which they shot at least 50 percent. They grabbed a season-high 15 steals and held Denver (3-5) to 40.9-percent shooting.
Durant’s streak of consecutive games with at least 20 points ended at 72, the fourth longest in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain holds the record with 126 such games.
Sports
STANDOUT PERFORMER
It was a Curry kind of night, with his teammates providing potent support.
Curry’s line: 33 points (10-of-17 shooting from the field, including 7-of-13 from beyond the arc), seven assists and five rebounds. He played 30 minutes and was plus-27 for the game.
Curry’s 15-point third quarter, helping push the lead as high as 31, essentially closed out the Nuggets.
TURNING POINT
After a Jusuf Nurkic layup gave Denver a 6-3 lead with 9:42 left in the first quarter, the Warriors responded with a 17-2 run, going up 20-8 with 5:41 left in the quarter.
The Warriors led by 14 (33-19) at the end of one, by 14 at the half (65-51) and by 24 (99-75) at the end of three quarters.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: C Damian Jones (R pectoral surgery recover) was listed as out. F James Michael McAdoo was a healthy inactive.
Nuggets: G Gary Harris (R groin strain) was listed as probable, upgraded to available and started the game. F Wilson Chandler (L hamstring soreness), F Darrell Arthur (L knee soreness) and F Will Barton (L ankle sprain) were listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Warriors return to action Sunday afternoon, when they face the Phoenix Suns at Oracle Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
