The Golden State Warriors made it 16 in a row Sunday night, outlasting the Anthony Davis-less New Orleans Pelicans 128-122 in overtime, and improving to 21-2 on the season.
Warriors are 1st team to start 21-2 since 2008-09 Celtics Last to start 21-2 and win NBA title-- 1995-96 Bulls (finished 72-10)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 15, 2014
The Warriors are only the ninth team in NBA history to win 21 of their first 23 games.
Here's what you need to know:
- The Pelicans put up a fight without Davis, thanks to a 38-point third quarter. They fell apart in overtime, though, outscored 17-11, after the Warriors opened the extra frame on an 8-1 run.
- Stephen Curry led Golden State's attack, scoring 34 on 11-of-21 shooting, adding seven rebounds, seven assists and a steal.
- Here's what overtime looked like:
- Curry's backcourt partner Klay Thompson had 29 points on 10-of-22 shooting, his seventh straight game with 20 or more points.
- Tyreke Evans shouldered the load on offense for the Pelicans, pouring in 34 points on 13-of-25 shooting. Jrue Holiday had 30 points, shooting 12-of-24 from the floor, while dishing out nine dimes.
- Yeah, the Warriors have won 16 in a row, and 21 of 23, but the most impressive statistic might be this: No team has shot better than 50 percent in a game against the Warriors this season. That streak's at 23 and counting.
- Before Sunday's game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr rejected comparisons to the Chicago Bulls team he played for in 1995-96, which won 72 games. "Oh God, no. No!" Kerr said. Well, his team's doing its best to prove its rookie head coach wrong.