SAN FRANCISCO – Steph Curry went to the free-throw line to reach 30 points once again on Friday night. This time he had a crowd serenading him with chants of “MVP.”
Golden State Warriors fans who returned to Chase Center for the first time in more than a year had plenty to cheer about, including a vintage Curry performance in the second half, as Golden State defeated Denver 118-97.
Curry had 25 of his 32 points after halftime and Draymond Green posted 19 assists and 12 rebounds in front of a crowd of 1,935 at the Chase Center.
Curry’s streak of 11 straight games with 30 points ended Wednesday in Washington, and he struggled in the first half Friday night. Curry had an issue with the taping of his right foot and left the court two minutes into the game. He never seemed comfortable when he returned five minutes later, missing all three of his 3-point attempts as Golden State led 54-50 at the break.
But he looked refreshed after halftime and finished 11 of 18 from the field and 4 of 9 from long range as the Warriors took command.
The Warriors never trailed after the first quarter, though Denver got within 63-62 early in the third quarter.
After Golden State extended the lead to 92-77 with 9:41 left, the Nuggets scored eight straight points in the next two minutes. But Green and Curry re-entered and the Warriors pulled away.
In the first half Andrew Wiggins had 14 of his 19 points and Mychal Mulder had 9 of his 14 to keep Golden State in front at halftime while Curry struggled.
Mulder was making his third start of the season after Kent Bazemore was held out because of health and safety protocols. Mulder provided a burst of energy at the start, hitting a 3 on the first possession of the game and adding two dunks early in the first quarter.
Curry had scored 53 points when the teams last met on April 12, when Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray suffered a season-ending knee injury. Denver had won four in a row since that game.
Denver’s MVP candidate Nikola Jokic had 19 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Archbishop Mitty High graduate Aaron Gordon had 17 points and six rebounds.
The Warriors welcomed back fans for the first time since March 10, 2020. Curry addressed fans before the opening tip, saying he appreciated their support. The crowd heckled Jokic with an “Airball” chant after a misfired 3 and booed a rare technical foul called on Curry in the third quarter.
Golden State hosts Sacramento on Sunday before finishing its three-game homestand Tuesday against Dallas.
(Guttmann is a special correspondent)
