Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry spearheaded the Golden State Warriors to a crucial 140-131 triumph over the Chicago Bulls on Friday, bouncing back from two previous losses.
Facing a 75-62 halftime deficit, the Warriors turned the tide with an explosive third quarter, amassing 48 points to take command in Chicago. Thompson concluded the game with 30 points and six assists, while Curry contributed 27 points to secure the victory.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the team’s recent struggles, stating, “I think we got off-track emotionally, spiritually, the last couple of games. Our fans could feel it. We got booed for the first time since I’ve been here, and as I said both nights, we deserved it because our energy and our competitive spirit was not there. We found that again tonight.”
In another game, San Antonio Spurs’ rookie Victor Wembanyama, a 20-year-old Frenchman, showcased his skills with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a dominant 135-99 win against the Charlotte Hornets.
Wembanyama impressed with nine of 14 shots, including two alley-oop dunks and a powerful one-handed jam in the second half. Hornets’ LaMelo Ball returned with a stellar performance, tallying 28 points, five assists, and five steals after a 20-game absence due to injury.
The Houston Rockets narrowly defeated the Detroit Pistons 112-110, with Fred VanVleet scoring 17 of his 20 points in the second half. The Pistons suffered their seventh consecutive loss since ending their record-equalling 28-game losing streak against the Toronto Raptors last month.
In addition, the reigning champions Denver Nuggets secured a 125-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, propelled by Nikola Jokic’s 12th triple-double of the season and the 10th of his career. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists.
