Stephen Curry went ballistic with his first 50-point game of the season as the Warriors' rise continues in the West.
Zion Williamson stuffed the sheet in Phoenix, while Lakers star Luka Doncic celebrated his 26th birthday in style.
CURRY EXPLODES FOR 56 AS WARRIORS, LAKERS STAY ON POINT
- Golden State Warriors (32-27) def. Orlando Magic (29-32), 121-115: Stephen Curry put on a scintillating performance that handed the Warriors a fifth straight win and now the seventh spot in the Western Conference.
- Welcome to Chef’s Cookout: Curry erupted for season-high 56 points, including dropping a 22-point third quarter, and 12 threes to pace a surging Golden State side who are now 7-1 since the Jimmy Butler trade and rose to the West no. 7 spot.
It was also the two-time MVP’s 14th career 50-point game, and the 45th time that he drilled nine or more threes in a game.
- Los Angeles Lakers (36-21) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-28), 111-102: Luka Doncic celebrated his 26th birthday with a fourth straight Lakers victory as LA climbed back to West no. 4.
[ALSO READ: LeBron James, Lakers celebrate Luka Doncic’s 26th birthday with a gutsy win over Twolves]
- New Orleans Pelicans (16-43) def. Phoenix Suns (27-32), 124-116: Zion Williamson recorded his first career triple-double that led to the Pelicans’ first three-game winning streak in over a month.
- Trip-Dub Zion: Williamson stuffed the stat sheet with 27 markers, 11 assists, and 10 assists to negate Kevin Durant and Devin Booker’s combined 64-point output for the fading Suns, who now lost three straight.
- Milwaukee Bucks (33-25) def. Denver Nuggets (38-21), 121-112: In a battle between two MVPs, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks survived another Nikola Jokic triple-double and the Nuggets.
[ALSO READ: Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Bucks pull away to overcome Nikola Jokic triple-double, Nuggets]
- Dallas Mavericks (32-28) def. Charlotte Hornets (14-44), 103-96: Kyrie Irving tallied 25 points that anchored this latest Mavericks home victory, while adding more woes to the slumping Hornets, who suffered a fifth straight loss.
