NBA News Wire
Warriors 104, Pistons 96
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Point guard Stephen Curry had 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors opened a six-game road trip with a 104-96 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night at The Palace.
Shooting guard Klay Thompson also scored 19 points to help Golden State (35-22) earn its fourth consecutive win. Power forward Jermaine O’Neal contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve guard Jordan Crawford chipped in 15 points, his best offensive night since he was acquired from the Boston Celtics in mid-January.
Power forward Greg Monroe had 23 points and eight rebounds for Detroit (23-34), which lost for the fifth time in six games. Forward Josh Smith recorded his fourth double-double in six games with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and swingman Kyle Singler added 18 points.
Golden State defeated Detroit for the sixth straight meeting.
Warriors power forward David Lee missed his second consecutive game because of a stomach flu. Center Andrew Bogut returned after missing seven straight games with a left shoulder injury, but he was limited to four points in 29 minutes before fouling out.
Guard Steve Blake’s 3-pointer off a Curry feed gave Golden State a 92-90 edge with 6:28 remaining. Curry’s pull-up jumper made it 97-94 with 3:09 left. Thompson’s mid-range jumper with 2:26 left stretched the Warriors’ lead to five. Golden State extended its lead to eight before the Pistons belatedly answered in the final minute.
Curry and forward Andre Iguodala shot a combined 0-for-10 from the field during the third quarter, but the Warriors only trailed 83-81 heading into the fourth. Monroe scored seven points during the quarter, including a fast-break dunk in the final minute.
O’Neal, who had a season-high 23 points and 13 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, scored 13 in the first half as Golden State led 63-62 at halftime.
NOTES: The last time the Warriors won five or more consecutive games over the Pistons was a seven-game streak in 1975-76. … Michigan State coach Tom Izzo sat courtside to watch his former player, Golden State PF Draymond Green. … The Pistons have allowed opponents to score 110 or more points on 18 occasions this season. During the six consecutive seasons from 2002-03 to 2007-08 when they reached the Eastern Conference finals, they allowed 110 or more points just 14 times. … Pistons PF Greg Monroe has an Eastern Conference-best 89 double-doubles since the 2011-12 season. Chicago C Joakim Noah is second on the list with 84. … The Warriors won for the 11th time in their past 14 road games. “The thing that gives us confidence is we’re a defensive-minded team,” coach Mark Jackson said. “We understand that we are more than capable of going on the road and winning ballgames.”
