{"id":1228600,"date":"2022-10-19T12:14:16","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T12:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/10\/19\/stephen-curry-scores-33-points-as-warriors-beat-lakers-in\/"},"modified":"2022-10-19T12:14:16","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T12:14:16","slug":"stephen-curry-scores-33-points-as-warriors-beat-lakers-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/10\/19\/stephen-curry-scores-33-points-as-warriors-beat-lakers-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Curry scores 33 points as Warriors beat Lakers in"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"LeBron
LeBron James (left) scored 31 points to move to within 1,294 of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time NBA record
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Stephen Curry scored 33 points as the Golden State Warriors began the defence of their NBA title with a 123-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n

Eight-time All-Star Curry, 34, led the Warriors\u2019 scoring while Andrew Wiggins scored 20 points.<\/p>\n

The Warriors are aiming for a fifth title in the past nine seasons.<\/p>\n

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LeBron James, who hopes to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar\u2019s all-time points scoring\u00a0record this season, finished with 31 points for the Lakers.<\/p>\n

While the Warriors are favourites to retain the championship, they endured a turbulent off-season with head coach Steve Kerr describing a recent clash between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole as the \u201cbiggest crisis\u201d he has faced during almost a decade in charge.<\/p>\n

However, they ensured off-court issues did not affect the opening game of the season as they pulled away over the final three quarters to comfortably see off the Lakers in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

After receiving diamond-encrusted rings in the pre-game ceremony, the Warriors were held to 25 points in the first quarter but hit 34, 32 and 32 in the final three periods as they outscored the Lakers 48-30 on three-pointers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ceremony was an amazing celebration, to take time to reflect on what you accomplished, watching the banner go up, looking at the highlight tapes and all that,\u201d said Curry.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really hard to turn the page and go and play a game of basketball, but we figured how to do it. Now we can look forward to the rest of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Klay Thompson finished the game with 18 points for the champions, Poole notched 12 points and seven assists off the bench while Curry also managed seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.<\/p>\n

Despite James\u2019 31-point haul, the Lakers \u2013 who missed out on the 2022 play-offs after a disappointing campaign \u2013 opened the season with defeat for the sixth year in a row.<\/p>\n

James, 37, moves on to 37,093 points, 1,294 shy of Abdul-Jabbar\u2019s record that has stood since 1984.<\/p>\n

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  • Curry calls for Griner freedom<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \"Curry
    Curry spoke out in support of Brittney Griner as the WNBA star spent her 32nd birthday in a Russian prison<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    During the ring ceremony, Curry made an impassioned speech in support of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who in August was\u00a0sentenced to nine years in prison\u00a0by a Russian court on drug charges.<\/p>\n

    Eight-time WNBA All-Star Griner was detained in February at an airport near Moscow when vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe want to continue to use our platform and the opportunity to shout out a very special member of the basketball community. Brittney Griner\u2019s birthday is today, she\u2019s 32,\u201d said Curry.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe want to continue to let her name be known and we pray. It\u2019s been 243 days since she was wrongfully incarcerated in Russia.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe hope that she comes home soon, that everybody\u2019s doing their part to get her home.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each hit 35 points as the\u00a0Boston Celtics<\/strong>\u00a0opened the season with a 126-117 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.<\/p>\n

    James Harden led Philadelphia with 35 points while Joel Embiid \u2013 who won last season\u2019s scoring title by averaging 30.6 points per game \u2013 finished on 26.<\/p>\n

    Wednesday\u2019s fixtures<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    • Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards<\/li>\n
    • Detroit Pistons v Orlando Magic<\/li>\n
    • Miami Heat v Chicago Bulls<\/li>\n
    • Toronto Raptors v Cleveland Cavaliers<\/li>\n
    • Memphis Grizzlies v New York Knicks<\/li>\n
    • Atlanta Hawks v Houston Rockets<\/li>\n
    • Brooklyn Nets v New Orleans Pelicans<\/li>\n
    • Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder<\/li>\n
    • San Antonio Spurs v Charlotte Hornets<\/li>\n
    • Utah Jazz v Denver Nuggets<\/li>\n
    • Phoenix Suns v Dallas Mavericks<\/li>\n
    • Sacramento Kings v Portland Trail Blazers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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