NBA Round Up: Warriors extend winning start to nine, Jordan leaves Dallas empty-handed
The Golden State Warriors matched their best start to an NBA season in 55 years after topping the Memphis Grizzlies 100-84.
Golden State had not won nine successive games to start a season since 1960-61 but that changed for the reigning champions on Wednesday.
In-form 2014-15 MVP Stephen Curry led the way with 28 points, while he was supported by Andre Iguodala’s 20 in Memphis.
Marc Gasol had 26 points but it was not enough to prevent a Grizzlies loss, though it was an improvement on the team’s record-breaking 50-point defeat to the Warriors on November 2.
DeAndre Jordan’s return to Dallas did not go according to plan, the Los Angeles Clippers beaten 118-108 by the Mavericks.
Jordan made his way back to Dallas for the first time since backing out on a deal to join the Mavs as a free agent during the off-season.
And the Clippers centre – booed with every touched – watched helplessly as Dirk Nowitzki and Wesley Matthews starred at the American Airlines Center.
Nowitzki scored a season-high 31 points and Matthews added 25.
The Brooklyn Nets, meanwhile, finally opened their account courtesy of a 106-98 win over the Houston Rockets.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points off the bench to end Brooklyn’s run of seven consecutive defeats.
The Rockets were led by James Harden and Dwight Howard (17 rebounds), who combined for 43 points.
In other results, the Atlanta Hawks rallied to beat the depleted New Orleans Pelicans 106-98.
The winless Philadelphia 76ers dropped their 18th straight game, accounted for 119-103 by the Toronto Raptors, who snapped a three-match losing streak.
DeMarcus Cousins posted 33 points and Rajon Rondo had a triple-double as the Sacramento Kings ended a six-game skid via a 101-92 victory at home to the Detroit Pistons.
The Denver Nuggets edged the Milwaukee Bucks 103-102 thanks to Kenneth Faried’s putback basket with five seconds remaining.
Paul George helped the Indiana Pacers past the Boston Celtics 102-91 and Cody Zeller’s layup with 0.6 seconds left on the clock lifted the Charlotte Hornets to a 95-93 win against the New York Knicks.
The Orlando Magic trumped the Los Angeles Lakers 101-99, while the San Antonio Spurs overcame the Portland Trail Blazers 113-101.
