Curry, Durant help Warriors pull away from Mavs, 133-103
DALLAS (AP) - Stephen Curry scored 29 points, Kevin Durant added 25 and the Golden State Warriors pulled away from the winless Dallas Mavericks in the second half of a 133-103 victory on Monday night.
Klay Thompson had 21 points as the defending champs got back to .500 four games into the season, two nights after losing their cool late in a loss at Memphis.
This time, the Warriors calmly put away the Mavericks after Dallas cut an 18-point deficit early in the second quarter to one late in the first half. Golden State never trailed in its seventh straight win in the series.
Curry made all five of his shots inside the 3-point line and all 13 free throws the same day he was fined $50,000 for throwing his mouthpiece in the final minute against the Grizzlies.
Thompson had consecutive 3-pointers to cap a 15-2 run that turned a two-point lead into an 83-68 advantage in the third quarter, sending Dallas to its second straight 0-4 start. The Mavericks lost a franchise-worst five straight to start last season.
Wesley Matthews scored 19 points for the Mavericks. Harrison Barnes had 13 points against his former team, matching J.J. Barea and Yogi Ferrell. Rookie Dennis Smith Jr. had 10 points after missing two games with left knee swelling.
Curry was just 2 of 10 from long range but made up for it by getting to the line. The two-time MVP has made all 39 free throws this season.
Durant was 9 of 15 from the field and 4 of 6 from beyond the arc as the Warriors shot 56 percent.
The Mavericks trailed 42-24 early in the second quarter before Matthews made all four shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, in a 10-point quarter. Dallas was twice within a point but never had a chance to take the lead.
Curry hit two free throws for a three-point halftime lead, then made one before play started in the second half when the Mavericks were called for delay of game.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Curry became the eighth player to reach 20,000 career minutes for Golden State in the first quarter. ... The Warriors improved to 34-7 after a loss under coach Steve Kerr. ... Curry and Draymond Green had eight assists apiece. Green scored 10 points with seven rebounds.
Mavericks: Curry's younger brother, Mavericks G Seth Curry, has missed all four games with a stress reaction in his lower left leg. Coach Rick Carlisle ruled him out this week. ... G Devin Harris missed his third straight game since his older brother, Bruce Harris, was killed in a car wreck in Dallas last week.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Home against Toronto on Wednesday.
Mavericks: Home against Memphis on Wednesday.
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