The Warriors moved to 23-0 to begin the season after earning a 131-123 road victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.
The Warriors moved to 23-0 to begin the season after earning a 131-123 road victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night. Klay Thompson scored a season-high 39 points, including 10 three-pointers. Stephen Curry notched 29 points and 10 assists, while Andrew Bogut recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. With the win, the Warriors tie the second-longest regular season winning streak in NBA history, and become the first team ever to start 13-0 on the road.
GAME LEADERS
The Warriors entered the game with a 22-0 record, and used a 22-0 run in the first quarter to push their winning streak one game further. The Pacers grabbed the lead from the start, scoring the first five points of the game, and they’d hold the lead until consecutive three-pointers from Klay Thompson put the Warriors up for the first time at 15-14. Indiana would then respond with a 7-0 run to retake their final lead of the game, though they didn’t know it at the time. Draymond Green’s dunk on the ensuing possession began a 22-0 run for Golden State over the next five minutes, putting the Warriors in the driver’s seat for good. Festus Ezeli’s two free throws with 10.7 seconds left in the frame would give the Warriors a commanding 44-28 lead and tie their own mark for the most points scored in a quarter by any team this season.
The Warriors achieved their largest lead of the first half after Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala combined to score the first six points of the second quarter. The Pacers wouldn’t go away just yet, however, using a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 62-51 with 3:52 left to play. But just as it appeared Indiana was gaining momentum, Klay Thompson rebuilt Golden State’s lead with a fantastic shooting display over the final few minutes. Thompson would make all four of his shots, all of which were three-pointers, to help the Warriors take a 79-60 lead into halftime. Thompson’s 29 points at the half were already the most he had scored in any game this season.
After the two sides essentially traded baskets for the first half of the third quarter, Thompson and the Warriors put an end to any lingering hopes of a Pacers’ comeback. Thompson would make the final two of his 10 three-pointers in the game to begin a 19-5 Warriors’ run. Stephen Curry’s jumper with 2.7 seconds remaining would send the game into the fourth and final quarter with Golden Sate holding a 111-83 advantage.
Luke Walton benched the starters at the start of the fourth quarter, and Indiana immediately took advantage. The Pacers would open the final period with a 12-0 run to pull within 113-95 with 9:13 left to play. After C.J. Miles’ three-pointer cut the deficit to 121-105 three minutes later, Walton promptly brought the starters back into the game. Draymond Green’s tip-in put the Warriors back up 127-114 with 3:05 remaining, but the Pacers still had one final push left in them. Indiana would respond with a 9-2 run to pull within 129-123 with 24.9 seconds left, but the Pacers had dug themselves too deep of a hole. Stephen Curry would close out the scoring with two free throws, as Golden State managed to hang on to a 131-123 road victory. Now having won 27-straight regular season games dating back to last season, the Warriors will attempt to achieve the second longest winning streak in NBA history when they play the Celtics in Boston on Friday.