OAKLAND, Calif. _ From seemingly any distance and at any time, the Golden State Warriors scored almost anytime they shot the ball.
For the past two games, Stephen Curry usually only did this. No one else. But in the Warriors' 124-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday at Oracle Arena, everyone joined the party.
Curry still led the show with 32 points, while shooting 9-of-17 from the field, 5-of-10 from 3-point range and a 9-of-10 mark from the free-throw line. He had plenty of help, though, as the Warriors (32-8) posted 38 assists, marking the eighth consecutive game they had at least 30.
Warriors forward Draymond Green nearly posted another triple double (23 points, 10 assists, five rebounds), while keeping his composure with the officials (mostly). Warriors guard Klay Thompson overcame a rare off night against the Los Angeles Clippers, posting 19 points while going 8-of-17 from the field and 3-of-6 from the perimeter. With Kevin Durant sidelined for the third consecutive game because of a strained right calf that Warriors coach Steve Kerr said "didn't quite feel right" during morning shootaround, the Warriors' bench offered a combined 41 points.
Make no mistake, though. Things still mostly centered on Curry.
After the Nuggets opened the third quarter on a 10-5 run to the tie the game at 69-69 with 6:57 left, Curry played a large part in exerting the Warriors' dominance. He posted 13 third-quarter points while making four of his five shots and nailing all three of his 3-point attempts. Curry also fueled the Warriors' 13-6 run to close out the third quarter with a 93-81 lead. After making a 3-pointer in transition to give the Warriors a 91-77 lead with 56.1 seconds left, Curry performed a shimmy move.
Curry also survived an injury scare when he strained his left knee early in the game. But he only needed to get the knee taped before returning shortly afterward. Curry even performed a somersault after drawing a foul on a made layup.
Nonetheless, the Warriors still managed when Curry was not at his best. He opened the game missing four of his first five shots. After posting a season-low in points in a loss to Denver on Dec. 23, the Warriors' depth returned to life.
