Fri, Mar 08, 2024 page7

• Curry stars as Warriors bounce back, rout Bucks

  COMEBACK WIN: Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero led the way for the Magic, who trailed by 21 points, but rallied to defeat the Wizards and extend their unbeaten streak

  • AFP, LOS ANGELES
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  Stephen Curry on Wednesday scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors bounced back from their catastrophic defeat in Boston to rout the Milwaukee Bucks 125-90.

  The Warriors on Sunday suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in franchise history, losing by a staggering 52-point margin in a 140-88 loss to the Celtics, but the seven-time NBA champions came roaring back with a vengeance to blow past the in-form Bucks with an emphatic win at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

  A revitalized Milwaukee had been unbeaten since the All-Star break, with an improved defense helping Doc Rivers’ team record six straight victories.

  

  Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, right, goes to the basket past Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks in their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday.

  Photo: Cary Edmondson-USA Today

  Yet the Warriors conjured a sublime all-round performance to keep the Bucks on the back foot almost from the outset.

  The Warriors poured in 40 points in the first quarter alone and then added 38 in the second to lead 78-58 at halftime.

  Although Milwaukee rallied in the third quarter, outscoring Golden State 23-15, the Warriors dropped the hammer in the final frame to cruise home.

  “The nature of the NBA, you can get hit by a bus like we did in Boston and there’s a temptation to forget the body of work that we’ve put in over the last month and a half, and the identity we’re trying to create,” Curry said. “For us to respond the way we did coming home was big. For us to be able to turn the page, play with conviction and confidence after a beatdown like that, it shows what we’re trying to build and who we are.”

  Curry received scoring support from Jonathan Kuminga with 20 points, while Trayce Jackson-Davis impressed with 15 points from the bench.

  Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee’s scorers with 23 points, while Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis had 20 apiece.

  The Warriors improved to 33-28 with the win to move into ninth place in the Western Conference.

  The Bucks remain second in the East with a 41-22 record, eight games adrift of leaders Boston.

  In Washington, the Orlando Magic extended their unbeaten streak to five games with a 119-109 defeat of the Washington Wizards.

  Franz Wagner (28 points) and Paolo Banchero (25) led the way for the Magic, who trailed by 21 points at one stage in the second quarter.

  The Wizards were left reflecting on their 16th straight defeat — equaling the franchise record. They remain rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference with a league-worst 9-53 record.

  There was another big rally in Houston, Texas, where the Los Angeles Clippers recovered after trailing by 20 in the second quarter to down the Rockets 122-116.

  Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers scoring with 28 points, with Paul George and James Harden bagging 21 each as Los Angeles grabbed a win which leaves them on 40-21 in fourth spot in the West.

  While the Clippers celebrated victory, the Los Angeles Lakers were left licking their wounds after another defeat, going down 130-120 to the Sacramento Kings.

  De’Aaron Fox shredded the Lakers’ defense with 44 points for Sacramento, while Malik Monk had 26 from the bench.

  The Lakers led by 19 in the first quarter, but unraveled in the second, with the Kings outscoring the hosts 44-20 to turn the contest on its head.

  The Philadelphia 76ers continue to struggle in the absence of the injured Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers slumped to a 115-109 defeat at home to the lowly Memphis Grizzlies, who themselves were without several key players, including Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.

  Jaren Jackson Jr led the Memphis scoring with 30 points, with Jake LaRavia adding 19 off the bench.

  Elsewhere, the Hawks downed the Cavaliers 112-101, the Bulls silenced the Jazz 119-117 and the Thunder thumped the Trail Blazers 128-120.

  Additional reporting by staff writer
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