CLEVELAND — Stephen Curry scored 35 points, including seven three-pointers, in just three quarters as Golden State pounded the Cavaliers 132-98 in Cleveland Monday in an NBA Finals rematch.
The Cavs (28-11) narrowly avoided their worst-ever home loss while the Warriors (38-4) swept the season series and have won the last five games between the teams.
“That’s who we know we can be,” Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said. “They were absolutely phenomenal tonight. We can’t really ask to play much better than that.”
The Cavs suffered just their second home loss this season but were never really in it. They trailed by 26 at the half and fell behind by 43 in the second half — their largest deficit of the season.
Cleveland’s worst-ever home loss was a 114-75 setback against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 20, 2012.
“Tonight was an example of how far we have to go to be a championship team,” said James, who scored 16 points.
J.R. Smith had 14 for the Cavs, who fell to 0-3 this season against the West’s elite — the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love shot a combined four-for-16 and totaled 11 points. Love’s only basket was a three-pointer late in the first half. “They definitely played like the champions,” Irving said.
Hornets 124, Jazz 119 (double OT): Kemba Walker poured in a career- and franchise-high 52 points on 16-of-34 shooting to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 124-119 double-overtime victory over the Utah Jazz in one of the NBA’s afternoon games in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Walker scored nine points in the second overtime, including a difference-making 3-pointer with 2:53 remaining that pushed Charlotte’s lead to 116-110. Both Walker and Hornets center Cody Zeller had four free throws apiece in the final 36.3 seconds to fend off a 3-pointer from Utah guard Trey Burke and secure the triumph.
Knicks 119, 76ers 113 (double OT): The New York Knicks, who led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, knocked off Philadelphia in double-overtime at Madison Square Garden.
Carmelo Anthony returned to the Knicks’ lineup after missing two games with a sprained ankle. He scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had seven assists in 49 minutes.
Rookie Jahlil Okafor led the 76ers with 20 points despite sitting out the fourth quarter and both overtimes.
Trail Blazers 108, Wizards 98: C.J. McCollum scored 25 points and Portland pulled away with a 23-1 run in the third quarter to beat Washington.
Meyers Leonard had 18 points and Damian Lillard scored 16 for the Trail Blazers, who led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Garrett Temple scored 18 points for the Wizards, who have lost two straight after reaching .500 following a four-game winning streak.
Grizzlies 101, Pelicans 99: Mike Conley posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists in his first game back from an Achilles injury as Memphis defeated New Orleans.
Bulls 111, Pistons 101: Pau Gasol had a season-high 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Chicago past Detroit.
Hawks 98, Magic 81: Forward Al Horford paced a balanced Atlanta attack, and the Hawks put away the struggling Orlando Magic in a 98-81 win at Philips Arena.
Raptors 112, Nets 100: Kyle Lowry scored 13 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and dished out eight assists as the Toronto Raptors defeated Brooklyn 112-100 to extend their winning streak to five games.
Mavericks 118, Celtics 113 (OT): Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 31 points for the Dallas Mavericks, who squandered a big lead and needed overtime to beat the Boston Celtics 118-113 at American Airlines Center.
Clippers 140, Rockets 132 (OT): J.J. Redick set a franchise record with nine three-pointers and scored a career-high 40 points as the Los Angeles Clippers held on for a 140-132 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.
