OAKLAND — Do not prematurely call the Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant’s team.
Steph Curry erupted for 46 points and set a new NBA record with 13 made three-pointers in the Warriors’s 116-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. It was a reminder to basketball fans that Curry has unique powers, and nobody in basketball can replicate them.
The Warriors took a 21 point lead in the second quarter, playing their up-tempo, white-hot style of basketball. Transition defense was creating offense and Curry was firing three-pointers from everywhere on the court — hitting six in the first half. Curry finished 13/17 from downtown, an unbelievable 76.4 percentage.
Despite Curry’s outburst, the game was closer than it should have been.
The Pelicans took a 73-72 lead in a lethargic in the third quarter from the Warriors and nipped on their heels the rest of the way. The Warriors didn’t pull away until Curry hit three consecutive threes late in the fourth quarter, causing pandemonium inside Oracle Arena.
In the third quarter, Curry was issued a technical foul for arguing a non-foul call where Anthony Davis clearly slapped his wrist behind the free throw line. The Pelicans missed the technical foul shot, and then Curry promptly drained a three-pointer on the other end. He flexed to the crowd afterwards. Davis finished with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Durant quietly added 20 points — his 71st straight game with at least 20 points.
But Monday really was a reminder of how precious Curry’s shooting gift is. Curry now has 78 games where he’s hit at least 6 threes, the next closest player in league history is J.R. Smith with 53.
Klay Thompson’s three-point struggles continued, but he was aggressive as a midrange shooter and around the basket, scoring 21 points. Kevon Looney was the Warriors’s first player off the bench and Zaza Pachulia saw his playing time decrease. The 32-year-old Andre Iguodala doesn’t quite look himself to start the season.
The Warriors will return to the court Wednesday to host Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut and the Dallas Mavericks.