Despite playing without both Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, the Warriors put
together a great all-around performance to defeat the visiting Chicago Bulls
143-94 on Friday night. Chicago actually held a three-point lead at the end of
the first quarter, but Golden State outscored the Bulls by 47 points over the
middle two frames to run away with the victory. Stephen Curry led all scorers
with 33 points, including 26 in the second quarter alone. Klay Thompson added 29
points and five three-pointers, while Zaza Pachulia recorded a season-high 11
points and a career-best six assists. With the win, Golden State improves to
14-5 on the season.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION After struggling mightily from the field in their loss in
Oklahoma City on Wednesday, the Warriors were bound to have a better performance
at home on Friday, and that’s exactly what the sold out crowd at Oracle Arena
got to see. The Dubs may not have started spectacularly, but soon enough, they
managed to make the Bulls disappear in the rearview mirror by thoroughly
outplaying the opposition throughout the middle two quarters.
After Antonio Blakeley knotted the score at 40-40 with 9:48 remaining in the
first half, Golden State responded by reeling off an 18-3 run that would put the
Dubs in front for good. The Warriors would go on to outscore the Bulls 45-21 in
the second frame, and would continue their dominance into the third, where they
would outscore Chicago 36-13. In total, Golden State turned a three-point
deficit at the end of the first frame into a 44-point advantage at the end of
three.
COOKIN’ CURRY
Stephen Curry collected two personal fouls in the first frame, limiting him to
just five points in the opening quarter. However, upon resumption of the second,
the two-time MVP began to leave his imprint on the game.
He had a hand in Golden State’s first eight points of the second quarter, first
assisting on Kevon Looney’s dunk before converting three free throws and a
jumper in succession. As it turned out, he was just getting started. He
accounted for 12 points and one assist during the 18-3 run that broke the game
open for Golden State, and would add another nine points and a dime throughout
the remainder of the first half. In total, he scored 26 points in the quarter
and 31 points in the half, which are both season-highs for any Warriors player
this season. It was Curry’s seventh career 30-point half and his 21st career
20-point quarter.
#StephGonnaSteph pic.twitter.com/G2jtmv33u9– Golden State Warriors (@warriors)
November 25, 2017
#StephGonnaSteph pic.twitter.com/G2jtmv33u9
MISSING STARS Kevin Durant missed Friday’s game against the Bulls due to a
sprained left ankle, while Draymond Green sat out for rest.
FIRST CAREER START FOR BELL Jordan Bell stepped in for Draymond Green and got
the first start of his NBA career on Friday, and he took full advantage of the
opportunity. Bell had a bounce in his step from the opening tip, and utilized it
to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He converted a couple dunks, and
notched a career-best six blocks in the contest.
FAMILIAR KLAY Klay Thompson didn’t have a great game in Oklahoma City, but he
sure did get back on the right track at home on Friday. Thompson totaled 14
points in the first half, and then added another 15 points in the third frame
before sitting out the entirety of the fourth. For the game, Thompson shot
12-of-17 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range.
UP NEXT Golden State’s homestand continues with the back end of a back-to-back
on Saturday against Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and the visiting New Orleans
Pelicans.
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