Curry returns, Warriors snap four-game losing streak with 116-102 win over Bulls

SAN FRANCISCO – Stephen Curry scored a game-high 32 points.  All five starters scored in double figures to help the Warriors snap a four-game losing skid with a 116-102 victory over the Chicago Bulls tonight. 

Curry, who shot 11-of-24 from the field including six made three-pointers, added six assists and five rebounds in his first game back after missing the last five games with a bruised tailbone suffered on March 17th at Houston. 

It was the 18th time this season that Curry scored 30-plus points in a game.

Throughout the game, you saw Curry fighting through pain for much of his 30 minutes of game action.  During timeouts and extended breaks, Curry wore a heat wrap on his tailbone. 

“It wasn’t fun but got through it,” Curry said.  “I was able to keep warm and deal with the pain and just play.  It will be something to manage in the near future but it will continue to heal as I get some more time.”

Curry got into a groove early, drilling three three-pointers to finish with 13 points in the first quarter.  In the second quarter while driving to the basket, Curry landed on his backside after a hard tumble to the floor.  The two-time MVP wore a heat wrap for much of the second quarter.

“He’s the heart and soul of everything we do,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.  “The last few games it’s been tough without that dynamic.”

The dynamic is Curry, Golden State is 1-6 without him in the lineup this season.

Andrew Wiggins had 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting and five rebounds, while Kelly Oubre Jr. shot 8-of-19 from the floor to finish with 18 points and 11 rebounds. 

After not attempting a shot in the Warriors 124-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks last Friday, Draymond Green was an offensive machine scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 from the field with three made three-pointers.  He made a three-pointer from the center court logo late in the second quarter that made Curry blush a bit.

“Call him logo Green,” Curry said.  “He may have a new nickname.”

Green finished with a game-high nine assists to go along with five rebounds.  Rookie center James Wiseman finished with 12 points, four rebounds and a career-high four block shots in 28 minutes.

“He’s heading in the right direction in his overall presence and impact on the game,” said Curry.  “As a rookie coming in, there’s so much scrutiny about everything that you’re doing.  I have seen a lot of 12 and four games, 12, five and four-block games before.  This one was one of his best games.”

Golden State’s defense, which took a hit during the four-game losing streak, struggled early in the game allowing the Bulls to shoot 59.1 percent in the first quarter and 60 percent in the first half.  Chicago shot 52.4 percent for the game.

The Warriors led 65-60 at halftime. 

In the third quarter, Golden State’s defense woke up and started to play like the fifth-best unit in the NBA.  The Warriors limited the Bulls to 25 points on 47.6 percent shooting, 1-of-7 from beyond three-point line.  In the second half, Chicago shot 43.6 percent from the floor.

Golden State forced the Bulls into 19 turnovers, leading to 19 points. 

“The turnovers continue to be an issue for us,” Chicago’s head coach Billy Donovan said.  “It’s hard to be as good as you can be when you do that on a consistent basis.”

Newly acquired center Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Chicago (19-26), who has lost four straight games.

Rookie Patrick Williams and Tomas Satoransky scored 14 points each.  Zach LaVine had a tough night for the Bulls, scoring just 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting from the floor.  LaVine was dreadful from deep, shooting just 1-of-7 from three-point land.

In the fourth quarter, the Warriors lead ballooned to 18 after Oubre’s two free throws made the score 111-93 with 5:38 left. 

Hopefully tonight’s victory is a springboard in the right direction for Golden State, as they gear up for a three-game East Coast road trip starting in South Beach Thursday against the Miami Heat. 

Photo by Warriors/Twitter

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