The Warriors concluded their three-game road trip Wednesday night with a second consecutive emphatic win over an Eastern Conference contender, stifling the Bulls in a 125-94 victory at United Center in Chicago.
The Warriors (39-4) raced out to a 70-44 halftime lead and maintained control, limiting Chicago to 37-percent field goal shooting, including 5 percent (1-of-20) from 3-point distance.
Five Warriors scored in double figures, with Stephen Curry putting a team-best 25 points. Klay Thompson finished with 20 and Harrison Barnes totaled 19. Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa each had 12, with Andre Iguodala adding 10.
Coming as it did two nights after a 34-point rout of Eastern Conference leader Cleveland, it looked as if the Warriors simply extended the excellence displayed at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors handed each the Bulls and the Cavs their worst loss of the season. The two victories marked the first time since 1972-73 that the Warriors have won back-to-back road games by 30+ points.
The Warriors beat the Bulls not only on the glass, 55-49, but also points in the paint (58-46) and fast-break points (21-8). The Warriors posted 38 assists, the NBA-best 21st time they’ve had at least 30.
Chicago (24-17) was led by point guard Derrick Rose, who poured in a game-high 29 points – 21 of which came in the first half.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
The honor on this night is shared by center Andrew Bogut and Curry.
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Curry’s line: 25 points (8-of-16, 3-of-9 from deep), 11 assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes. He was plus-36 for the game.
Bogut’s line: 6 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists in 20 minutes before taking a seat to rest. His plus/minus: plus-6.
TURNING POINT:
After a jumper by Chicago’s Jimmy Butler tied the game at 14-14 with 5:59 left in the first quarter, the Warriors went on a 27-6 run that spanned the end of the first and start of the second to take a 41-20 lead with 10:17 left in the half.
Seven Warriors scored during the stretch, led by guard Barbosa, with 8 points.
Chicago missed 12 of 14 shots (14.3 percent) and committed three turnovers during that span of slightly less than eight minutes. The Bulls in the second half never got closer than 11 points.
INJURY UPDATE:
Warriors: F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) was listed as out and placed on the inactive list.
Bulls: G Kirk Hinrich (L quad contusion), F Joakim Noah (L shoulder surgery) and F Mike Dunleavy (back surgery recovery) were listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT:
The Warriors return to the Bay Area this weekend and on Friday night face the Indiana Pacers at Oracle Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
