NEW YORK _ The Warriors have a strategy that is light years ahead of everyone else. Get the ball either to Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant.
The Warriors held on for a 120-114 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday by relying on their two top scorers.
Curry posted a team-leading 35 points, while shooting 11-of-26 from the field, 7-of-15 from 3-point range and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line along with seven rebounds and three assists. Durant added 34 points while going 11-of-20 from the field, 2-of-6 from 3-point range and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line along with eight rebounds and six assists.
Those numbers look like a typical performance from each player. But this marked the third game this season and fifth overall that both Curry and Durant posted at least 30 points. Could they sustain that output for the 2017-18 season?
"Why not?" Curry said, grinning. "We'll see."
So far, neither player has shown any sign of struggling to maintain such a workload.
The Warriors (6-1) nearly squandered a 19-point lead, allowing the Nets (2-4) to cut the lead to 110-108 after Brooklyn guard D'Angelo Russell made a layup with 1:53 remaining. The Warriors (6-1) relied on Curry and Durant, though, to make that concern go away quickly.
Curry set Durant up for a pull-up jumper. Curry canned a 3-pointer. Both Durant (2-of-2) and Curry (2-of-3) closed out making shots at the foul line. Just like that, the Warriors (6-1) cemented a victory in the same way they mostly have done thus far.
Unlike Curry, though, Durant wonders how long their run will last.
"We're making shots, but it's a long season," Durant said. "I'm sure there are games we're up and down with our shooting. I'm sure there's going to be some games throughout the year. But we're both coming into the year knowing how hard we've been playing."
Curry entered the 2018-19 season feeling both rejuvenated with rest and focused with an off-season regimen he considered more disciplined than in past years. Durant entered the 2018-19 season feeling both satisfied with a second consecutive NBA championships and Finals MVP award, prompting him to want to play with "childlike joy" this season than chase additional accolades.
Because of that, Warriors coach Steve Kerr observed that "there's probably a better comfort zone and comfort area than there has ever been."
The two became the biggest focal points ever since Durant signed with the Warriors as a free agent two years ago. But in the past week, the two have played their best basketball together yet. Curry logged his fifth 30-point game this season, while Durant posted his fourth 30-point game.
"We're confident and we understand the game calls for certain efforts in terms to be a little more aggressive to score based on different lineups we have," Curry said. "We try to create the best shots we can and force the issue a little bit if we need to. The way we established our offensive game through any five man unit that is out there will carry us and get everybody else more confidence as we go through the season."
They have established that dynamic in different ways.
Curry has set a new NBA record with at least five 3-pointers for the seventh consecutive game, an honor former Dallas guard George McCloud once held (1995-96). Though opponents try to defend him at the perimeter, Curry has canned most of those shots regardless of the distance and defenders that make those attempts difficult to make.
"I always want to get better," Curry said. "I went into the season feeling like I can be more efficient as a scorer and playmaker."
Instead of relying on his outside shot, Durant has mixed in mid-range jumpers, drives to the basket and post-ups en route to a combine 69-of-124 clip (55.6 percent). Durant has ensured those numbers by working on various shooting drills from different spots every day.
"If a team likes to take away my drive or 3-pointer or my post up. I try to play other parts of the game to be effective," Durant said. "Something I try to think about every time I step on the floor. It has worked out."
Yes, it has. And the Warriors currently appear unstoppable because of it.
