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Durant, Curry lead Warriors past 76ers

Stephen Curry sank a late tie-breaking jump shot en route to 28 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 120-117 in a potential NBA finals matchup on Saturday. Curry also added two late free throws and a layup for the two-time defending league champion Warriors, who wanted to get their March schedule off to a flying start after a stagnant February. Kevin Durant delivered a game-high 34 points, and DeMarcus Cousins had his highest-scoring game since joining Golden State with 25 as the Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak.

Reuters SPORTS
Published March 03,2019
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Stephen Curry broke a late tie with a jumper and later added two free throws and a layup Saturday night, allowing the visiting Golden State Warriors to finish off the Philadelphia 76ers for a 120-117 victory in a nationally televised game.

Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 34 points, Curry added 28 and DeMarcus Cousins produced his highest-scoring game for Golden State with 25 as the Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak to salvage a 2-2 Eastern Conference trip.

The Warriors have never had a losing trip of four or more games in the Steve Kerr era.

Ben Simmons recorded a 25-point, 15-rebound, 11-assist triple-double for the 76ers, who lost for the 11th time in their last 12 meetings against Golden State.

The 76ers haven't won a home game against the Warriors since 2012.

Both teams were missing an All-Star, with 76ers star Joel Embiid sitting out his fifth straight game with tendinitis in his left knee, while the Warriors were without high-scoring guard Klay Thompson because of soreness in his right knee.

Curry's tie-breaking jumper came with 2:35 to go after 76ers backup Mike Scott had hit two free throws to produce the third and final tie of the fourth quarter.

Curry's free throws and layup increased the lead to six with 38.2 seconds remaining before a 3-pointer by Tobias Harris helped the 76ers get within 119-116, and they had possession of the ball again with 19.4 seconds to go.

Simmons and Durant then traded one free throw apiece, before the 76ers, still with a chance to tie, failed to get a shot on a final desperation possession.

Draymond Green contributed six points, and team highs of nine rebounds and 10 assists to the Golden State win, which was just the third in its last seven games.

Damion Lee, a two-way player getting increased playing time due to Thompson's injury, aided the Warriors' cause with four 3-pointers, good for 12 points.

Hitting six 3-pointers, Scott backed Simmons with 22 points for the 76ers, who were coming off consecutive road wins over New Orleans and Oklahoma City.

Jimmy Butler had 21 points and nine rebounds, Harris had 20 points and nine boards, Jonah Bolden scored 12 points and T.J. McConnell 10 for Philadelphia, which was outshot 50.6 percent to 44.8 percent.

The Warriors trailed by 12 at halftime and by as many as 14 early in the third quarter before riding the 3-point shooting of Curry, Cousins and Lee into a 73-71 lead with still 7:23 remaining in the period.