NBA Selecciones
IND

110

23-20
Final
GS

122

40-4
CronicaNumeritos
1 2 3 4 T
IND 18 33 24 35 110
GS 32 32 24 34 122
Oracle Arena, Oakland
ESPN.com news services 8y

Stephen Curry upstages Steve Kerr's return, Warriors reach 20-0 at home

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Steve Kerr has spoken of Stephen Curry taking it to another level this season -- and Kerr watched it from the bench for the first time Friday night.

The reigning MVP banked in a shot from midcourt with a hand in his face at the halftime buzzer after his three-quarter court swish at the end of the first was just late, and he finished with 39 points and a triple-double, helping Kerr win his season debut in the Golden State Warriors' 122-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

"Great coaching," Kerr quipped.

Kerr returned from a leave of absence dating to Oct. 1 for complications following two back surgeries, and defending champion Golden State delivered for him by winning its 38th straight home game at Oracle Arena to match the 1985-86 Celtics for third-longest home winning streak all-time. The Warriors are 20-0 at home this season.

Curry added 12 assists and 10 rebounds for his second triple-double of the season and seventh of his career. He shimmied after his half-court shot and pounded his chest following his 201st 3-pointer of the season at the 6:26 mark of the third quarter.

"Two fun shots," Curry said of his long heaves. "I hadn't hit one in a while in a game from that far since Memphis last year. Funny that the first one went in and didn't count, and then felt pretty confident in the second one just because I'd already done it once. Needed a little glass to help but it went in."

The 48-footer at the halftime buzzer was the longest shot of his regular-season career and the third-longest this season. Vince Carter had a 65-footer against the Hawks on Nov. 27, and Dwyane Wade had a 49-footer against the Timberwolves on Nov. 5. Curry was 0-for-34 in the regular season on shots of 45 feet and beyond prior to that shot.

Curry has made six shots of 30 feet or longer this season. The only other players with two such shots this season are Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler and Wade. Over the past 20 seasons, only Gilbert Arenas has more 30-foot shots in a single season (eight in 2006-07).

Golden State has 10 triple-doubles this season -- Draymond Green has the other eight -- to match the franchise record set in 1959-60. Curry has 30 or more points in six of his past eight games, and Green added 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Curry also became the first player in NBA history to make 200 3-pointers in four straight seasons. The only player with more than four seasons of at least 200 3s is Ray Allen with five.

An emotional Kerr waved and said, "Thank you," when he received a rousing ovation during pregame introductions. He led the Warriors to a franchise-best 67 wins and their first championship in 40 years last season as a first-year coach. Interim coach Luke Walton guided Golden State to an NBA-record 24-0 start and 39-4 mark, and now goes back to his job as top assistant.

"It was a special night to have Coach Kerr back on the bench with all he's been through over the last seven months, to see him doing what he loves once again, it's amazing," Green said.

Monta Ellis led the Pacers with 18 points in his return to Oracle to face his former team. Myles Turner, who had averaged 20 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks over his previous two games, scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Golden State made 10 of its first 14 shots, four of those by Green and two 3-pointers by Curry to go ahead 25-8 on the way to a season sweep of the Pacers. The Warriors put up a 79-point first half -- most in a first half in the NBA this season -- on the way to a 131-123 road win at Indiana on Dec. 8.

KERR'S RETURN

Kerr couldn't wait to get back out there. He said he had "butterflies."

"I've been waiting for this for a long time. ... I really missed the routine," Kerr said. "It feels like the first game of the season, which it is for me. Fortunately our team's in a pretty good groove and hopefully we can keep going."

"He's a good friend, and it signals the fact that he's feeling much better, health-wise," said Spurs coach and Kerr friend Gregg Popovich, who will be here Monday night. "And that's wonderful."

GEORGE ALL-STAR STARTER

Pacers coach Frank Vogel made a point to congratulate Paul George on being named an All-Star starter for the Eastern Conference in the Feb. 14 game at Toronto.

It has been a long road back from that devastating right leg injury he suffered with the U.S. national team on Aug. 2, 2014.

"So proud of him. I talked to him this afternoon," Vogel said. "You see that (injury) happen and you don't know if you're ever going to play the game again or walk the same again. To come as far back as to get in some games last year and just return to the court was a huge accomplishment in my mind."

TIP-INS

Pacers: Ellis played his initial 6 1/2 seasons for the Warriors from 2005 to '12, then was traded to Milwaukee in the deal that brought Andrew Bogut to Golden State in March 2012. ... The Pacers were outrebounded 50-44.

Warriors: The two home winning streaks longer than Golden State's current unbeaten run: Bulls' 44 from March 30, 1995, to April 4, 1996, and 40 by the Orlando Magic (March 21, 1995-March 19, 1996). The Warriors haven't lost at Oracle since a 113-111 overtime defeat to Chicago last Jan. 27. ... Golden State won its first season series against the Pacers since going 2-0 in 2000-01. ... Kerr plans to keep some plays installed by Walton, saying, "Tough act to follow." ... Bogut had three blocks in back-to-back games for the fourth time this season.

UP NEXT

Pacers: At Sacramento on Saturday night.

Warriors: Host San Antonio on Monday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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