Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (left) scored 34 points, including 14 in the last quarter against Houston Rockets. (MCT)

DPA/Los Angeles

“It was a character win to dig down deep, get over the turnovers an ugly first half and get the win,” said Curry, who buried six triples and grabbed 10 rebounds in the come-from-behind win.

The Warriors became the NBA’s only undefeated team left after the Milwaukee Bucks handed the visiting Memphis Grizzlies their first loss of the season after six wins, 93-92.

The Warriors dominated the inside without Rockets centre Dwight Howard, who was scratched before gametime with flu-like symptoms.

“They’re obviously a different team without Dwight,” Warriors rookie coach Steve Kerr said. “When Dwight is out there he’s running to the rim and getting lob dunks. It changes everything.”

Curry changed everything after intermission, when the All-Star guard lit up the Rockets for 23 points, and the visitors outscored their hosts, 50-31.

“We have this guy named Steph Curry, he’s pretty good,” Kerr said with a smile. “Steph just took over.”

Australian Andrew Bogut grabbed 18 rebounds, Andre Iguodala netted 15 points, Draymond Green had 14 while Klay Thompson 11 for the Warriors, who are off to their best start in 20 years.

Bogut was delighted the Warriors remain perfect despite another uneven victory.

“We’re not there yet that’s the scary thing,” he said. “We haven’t played well and to pull out victories is a great sign. We have a lot more work to do and our ceiling is not even close.”

James Harden had 22 points while Isaiah Canaan added a career-high 21 for the Rockets (6-1), who hit just 10-of-47 shots from behind the arc.

“We were stagnant. We didn’t move,” Houston coach Kevin McHale said.

“We had too many turnovers, and we just ran out of gas.”

Trailing by eight after a sluggish first half, the Warriors went on a 22-4 tear behind nine points apiece by Curry and Thompson. The run was part of 28-13 third-quarter blitz that limited the Rockets to frosty 5-of-27 field goal shooting.

“We finally starting moving the ball in the second half better and that got us going a little bit,” Kerr said. “But it was really our defence and intensity that turned the game around.”

Golden State carried a 76-69 advantage into the final 12 minutes but the Rockets rallied to knot it at 82 on Trevor Ariza’s jumper with 6 minutes 48 seconds left to play.  

Curry took over with 12 points, including a pair of triples, and the Warriors pulled away for just their second win in last 13 trips to Houston.

Elsewhere

♦ Milwaukee Bucks 93, Memphis Grizzlies 92: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 18 points, Brandon Knight converted a three-point play with 1.1 seconds left, and the Bucks handed the visiting Grizzlies (6-1) their first loss of the season. Zach Randolph led Memphis with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

♦ New Orleans Pelicans 100, San Antonio Spurs 99: Anthony Davis hit the game-winning layup with 6.6 seconds left to cap a 27-point, 11-rebound effort, lifting the visiting Pelicans to their first win in the last six outings over the Spurs. Frenchman Tony Parker scored 28 points and Argentine Manu Ginobili added 17 to pace the reigning NBA Champs.

♦ LA Clippers 106, Portland Trail Blazers 102: J.J. Redick poured in 30 points, Blake Griffin had 23 while Chris Paul contributed 22 with 11 assists, as the Clippers shaded the visiting Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard topped Portland with 25 points while LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 and 10 rebounds.

♦ Miami Heat 102, Minnesota Timberwolves 92: Dwyane Wade scored 25 points, Chris Bosh added 24, and the Heat snapped a modest two-game slide, after trimming the visiting Timberwolves minus Ricky Rubio. Montenegro’s Nikola Pekovic had 19 points with 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who learned hours earlier, that Spanish point guard Rubio will be sidelined indefinitely because of a left ankle sprain.

♦ Boston Celtics 106, Chicago Bulls 101: Evan Turner tossed in 19 points, Kelly Olynk had 18 with 11 rebounds, and the visiting Celtics stopped the Bulls, playing for the fourth time in the last five games without All-Star guard Derrick Rose because of both ankle sprains. Aaron Brooks topped Chicago with 26 points and Spanish star Pau Gasol added 19.

♦ Washington Wizards 97, Indiana Pacers 90: John Wall tallied 18 points, Brazilian Nene added 17, and the visiting Wizards held off the Pacers. Solomon Hill wasted a career-high 28 points for Indiana, which lost centre Roy Hibbert to a bruised left knee in the first quarter.

♦ Atlanta Hawks 103, New York Knicks 96: Kyle Korver scored 27 points, Jeff Trague added 19, and the Hawks rallied from 15 down in the third quarter to hand the visiting Knicks their fourth straight loss. Carmelo Anthony led New York with 20 points.