Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a shot against Dante Cunningham of the New Orleans Pelicans in Oakland, California, on Monday. The Warriors won 125-107. (Photo: AFP)
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a shot against Dante Cunningham of the New Orleans Pelicans in Oakland, California, on Monday. The Warriors won 125-107. (Photo: AFP)
Golden State star Stephen Curry had plenty to celebrate on Monday, pouring in a game-high 27 points on his 28th birthday as the Warriors stayed perfect at home this season with a 125-107 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Warriors improved to 60-6 — becoming the fastest team in league history to reach 60 wins and the first since the 2007-09 Boston Celtics to record 60 wins in back-to-back campaigns.
With 16 games remaining, they continue to chase the record of 72 wins set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
Curry was feted with songs and chants to celebrate his birthday.
But it was Australian big man Andrew Bogue who sparked a third-quarter surge with a rare three-pointer — the third of his career and his first since March 8, 2013 — followed by a blocked shot at the other end.
His efforts ignited a 13-0 scoring run that put the Warriors well on their way to a 49th straight regular-season victory at home in Oakland, California, a streak dating back to last season.
The Warriors secured the Pacific Division title on their day off on Sunday thanks to the Los Angeles Clippers’ loss to Cleveland.
They have won back-to-back division titles for the first time since 1975 and 1976.
The Utah Jazz kept up their push for an NBA playoff berth with a 94-85 victory over LeBron James and the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rodney Hood scored 28 points and Shelvin Mack added 16 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to lead the Jazz, who were without leading scorer Gordon Hayward who missed the contest with plantar fasciitis.
James scored 23 points and Kyrie Irving added 15 and Kevin Love 12 for the Cavaliers, who had won three straight coming into the game.
Cleveland looked primed to end their road trip on a high note when the raced to an 11-4 four lead courtesy of an alley-oop dunk from James.
But Utah battled back as Mack drained a three-pointer and French center Rudy Gobert converted a three-point play to key a 13-2 run that put the Jazz up 19-15.
Cleveland used a 14-3 run to take a slim lead late in the third and they went into the final quarter with the score tied at 66-66.
Trey Lyles scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter for Utah — before he was ejected for a flagrant foul against Channing Frye.
