CALIFORNIA – Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson came alive in the fourth quarter as the Golden State Warriors edged Brooklyn Nets, 110-106, in the 2021-2022 NBA Season on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Struggling for combined 12 points in the first three quarters, Curry and Thompson made their presence felt in the payoff period. The Warriors notched its fifth consecutive win for a 37-13 win-loss slate.
Curry finished with 19 points, 14 of which came in the final 12 minutes. Thompson ended up with 16 markers, including nine markers in fourth period, for the Warriors.
After seeing their once 19-point lead turned to an 81-78 deficit, the Warriors went to work out outside hits from Curry and Jordan Poole for an 88-all score on a layup by Juan Toscano-Anderson.
Curry and Thompson then took over with consecutive hits as the Golden State held on to a slim 98-97 lead before they widened it to 104-99 via a basket by Thompson and free throws by Curry.
The Nets rallied to within 103-104. However, Thompson nailed a three-pointer to make it 107-103. Brooklyn answered with a three-pointer from Kyrie Irving to cut the Golden State’s lead to 107-106.
A technical free throw by Curry followed by two more freebies from Thompson widened Golden State’s advantage to 110-106 with five seconds left in the match.
Andrew Wiggins spearheaded the offense for the Warriors with 24 points, 17 coming in the opening half. Poole and Otto Porter Jr. added 17 and 16 markers, respectively.
Kyrie Irving top-scored with season-high 32 points. Patty Mills and James Johnson added 24 and 14 markers, respectively, as the Nets suffered its fourth consecutive loss to drop to 29-20.
The Nets had a very shorthanded roster following injuries to stars Kevin Durant and James Harden as well to role players Joe Harris, LaMarcus Aldridge and David Duke Jr.
BOX SCORE:
GOLDEN STATE 110 — Wiggins 24, Curry 19, Poole 17, Thompson 16, Porter Jr 16, Looney 6, Toscano-Anderson 6, Payton II 4, Kuminga 2, Lee 0.
BROOKLYN 106 — Irving 32, Mills 24, Johnson 14, Claxton 9, Aldridge 9, Griffin 8, Edwards 4, Bembry 2, Brown 2, Thomas 2.
Quarterscores: 31-20; 54-47; 78-76; 110-106./PN
