The highly-anticipated match-up between the NBA’s elite teams was a mismatch.
Reigning league MVP Stephen Curry fired in six triples en route to 37 points before sitting out the fourth quarter and the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors dominated the San Antonio Spurs 120-90 on Monday for their 39th consecutive home win, with 21 coming this season.
“This was a big win for us considering the emotion and the buildup,” said Curry. “And to back it up with this type of play is great.”
The showdown of the NBA’s best clubs with a combined 78-10 record was the best of any two after 40 games in league history. But the hype was better than the contest and the Warriors easily snapped the Spurs’ season-high 13-game winning streak while sending the Silver to their worst loss since 2012.
“Our guys were excited and ready to play tonight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It was our night it wasn’t theirs.”
Reserves Shaun Livingston and Brandon Rush had 13 points apiece while Marresse Speights added 12 for the league-best Warriors (41-4), who enjoyed their second biggest win over their Western Conference foes in franchise history.  
Curry put on a put on a shooting clinic against the top defensive club missing future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan because of right knee soreness. The league’s top scorer poured in 19 points and the Warriors shot nearly 59 per cent from in the field and led 62-47 at halftime.
Curry continued to shoot lights out, going off for 18 more points, including a trio of triples in the 33-18 third quarter, and the Warriors carried a commanding 95-65 cushion into the final frame before coasting home.  
“They’ll probably never play that poorly against us again,” Kerr added.
“It’s just one game, the score doesn’t mean anything and we move on.”
Kawhi Leonard scored 16 points for the Spurs (38-7), who committed a season-high 26 turnovers, resulting in 32 Warriors points in the beat-down.  
“It was like men to boys out there as far as their toughness and aggressiveness in every facet of the game tonight,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
“You have to give them credit. We have a long way to go to play with those guys.”
Elsewhere:
•Charlotte Hornets 129, Sacramento Kings 128 (2 OT): DeMarcus Cousins set a Sacramento record with 56 points, the most in the NBA this season but it wasn’t enough. Troy Daniels scored a personal-best 28, including the go-ahead triple - his eighth of the game - with nine seconds left lifting  the visiting Hornets (22-23) over the Kings (20-24).
•Cleveland Cavaliers 114, Minnesota Timberwolves 107: LeBron James scored 25 points, Tristan Thompson had 19 with 12 rebounds, and the Cavaliers (31-12) gave Tyronn Lue his first win as head coach after trimming the visiting Timberwolves. Lue lost Saturday’s debut to Chicago after taking over for the fired David Blatt on Friday.  Karl Anthony-Towns had 26 points with 11 rebounds for the T-Wolves (14-32), who suffered their ninth straight road loss.  
•Boston Celtics 116, Washington Wizards 91:  Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points to lead six teammates in double figures, and the visiting Celtics (25-21) completed a 4-0 season series sweep over the Wizards (20-23).
•Houston Rockets 112, New Orleans Pelicans 111: James Harden had 35 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, Trevor Ariza netted a season-high 31, including six triples, and the visiting Rockets (25-22) won their third in a row after edging the host Pelicans, who lost  All-Star forward Anthony Davis to concussion in the second quarter. Jrue Holiday topped New Orleans (17-28) with a season-best 32 points.
•Memphis Grizzlies 108, Orlando Magic 102 (OT):  Jeff Green scored a season-high 30 points, and Mike Conley added five of his 12 in an 8-2 overtime session, as the Grizzlies (26-20) sent the visiting Magic (20-23) to a sixth straight loss.
•Miami Heat 89, Chicago Bulls 84: Dwyane Wade tossed in 28 points, Chris Bosh added 18, including the tie-breaking jumper with 61 seconds left, and the Heat (24-21) snapped a four-game slide after beating the Bulls. Spaniard Pau Gasol had 19 points and 17 rebounds to pace the Bulls (25-19), who played without guard Derrick Rose in the second half because of a lower back and hamstring injuries.
•Atlanta Hawks 119, Denver Nuggets 105: Paul Millsap led five teammates in double figures with 22 points, and the Hawks (27-19) ended an eight-game drought in Denver (17-28), with their first victory since 2006.
•Detroit Pistons 95, Utah Jazz 92: Reggie Jackson scored 29 points and the Pistons (24-21) held off the Jazz (19-25) when Gordon Hayward missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer on the final play of the game. Rodney Hood topped Utah (19-25) with 23 points while Hayward finished with 22.