Stephen Curry inspired Warriors win
Stephen Curry (second from right) of the Golden State Warriors tries to make his way past Washington Wizards players in their NBA game in Washington on Wednesday. The Warriors won 134-121. (Photo: AFP)

Stephen Curry (second from right) of the Golden State Warriors tries to make his way past Washington Wizards players in their NBA game in Washington on Wednesday. The Warriors won 134-121. (Photo: AFP)
Stephen Curry scored 51 points, including an NBA season high 11 3-pointers, to power the defending league champion Golden State Warriors past host Washington 134-121 on Wednesday.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Curry scored 25 points in the first quarter as the Warriors improved to 45-4 with their eighth consecutive victory.
Curry went 11-of-16 from beyond the arc, finishing one 3-pointer shy of matching the one game NBA record of 12 3-pointers shared by Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and former NBA standout Donyell Marshall.
“I missed one too many,” Curry joked. “At the end of the game, yeah, I knew I was within reach. I was kind of searching, but not trying to force with where the game was. You can’t mess around with the basketball gods trying to chase a record if the game doesn’t call for it.” Curry went 13-for-14 from the floor in the first half, making eight 3-pointers in producing 36 points to give Golden State a 74-60 lead.
The Wizards rallied within 81-79 before Curry helped the Warriors put down the threat.
Curry’s fellow NBA All-Star guard John Wall led Washington with a season-high 41 points and added 10 assists but the Wizards fell to 21-26 with their seventh loss in nine games. “He made some unbelievable shots,” Wall said of Curry.
Curry, who finished 19 of 28 from the field, made his first six shots, including five 3-pointers, inside the opening seven minutes. “To start off like I did was fun,” Curry said.
Reserve Jeremy Lin scored 24 points and contributed eight assists and five rebounds to lead Charlotte over visiting Cleveland 106-97.
Marvin Williams added 16 points for the Hornets. Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 26 points while LeBron James added 23 points.
