National Basketball Association

Stephen Curry nails late 3 vs. Magic to give Warriors 10th straight win

Published Dec. 3, 2014 1:22 a.m. ET

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Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr saw the look in Stephen Curry's eyes and the bounce in his step as he sprinted with the ball in transition.

"I was thinking, `Don't call timeout,'" Kerr said.

Good move, Coach.

Curry made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining, sending the Warriors to a thrilling 98-97 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night for their 10th straight win.

"I wanted to go to my left down the middle and go to the basket and maybe get fouled or something, but he kind of bit on the in-and-out move and I was able to get a rhythm shot in transition," Curry said.

In the most dramatic finish to their streak, Curry lost Tobias Harris with some crafty dribbling before pulling up to swish the shot. Curry shook his shoulders and pounded his chest as the announced sellout crowd of 19,596 roared at noisy Oracle Arena.

"It's just kind of a rush that every player loves to experience," Curry said. "Especially at home when you're able to do that and get a huge win, you remember those moments."

Draymond Green, who sprained his right thumb in the first quarter, deflected Kyle O'Quinn's pass to Harris on Orlando's last possession to preserve Golden State's streak.

Curry finished with 22 points and five assists, and Klay Thompson scored 20 as the Warriors rallied from nine points down in the final four minutes.

The Warriors (15-2) extended the best start in franchise history and moved within one game of matching the team record for consecutive victories set in the 1971-72 season. They have not lost since Nov. 11 to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and are finding ways to win even when they're not at their best.

"That's what the good teams do," said Warriors center Andrew Bogut, who had 12 rebounds, seven points and five blocks.

Victor Oladipo scored 27 points, and O'Quinn had 21 points and 11 rebounds in a stunning collapse for the young Magic. Orlando had lost four in a row before beating Phoenix on Sunday.

"That's some of the best basketball we've played all year and it comes out disappointing because Steph made a lot of tough shots, big-time shots," Harris said.

In their first game home since a 5-0 road trip, the Warriors gave their fans quite a show in the closing minutes.

Oladipo's 3-pointer put the Magic up 93-84 with 4:11 left. But Curry came back with a 3, and Thompson connected on consecutive shots from beyond the arc to quickly tie the game.

The teams traded scores and misses -- with the Warriors clanking three 3s on one possession -- before Harris banked in a running shot over Bogut, who couldn't finish an alley-oop from Curry on Golden State's next time down.

After Elfrid Payton's missed a difficult layup, Curry got the ball and raced down court for the tying shot from long range, where the Warriors had struggled most of the night. Golden State ended 8 for 27 from deep.

Curry (sprained left ankle) and Thompson (bruised right quadriceps) were questionable before the game and took more than three quarters to find a rhythm. Both said they felt fine afterward.

TIP-INS

Magic: C Nikola Vucevic sat out with back spasms. He is questionable for Wednesday's game at the Los Angeles Clippers. ... Orlando has lost four in a row against the Warriors, dropping the season series for the second straight year.

Warriors: F David Lee remains out indefinitely with a left hamstring injury. ... The Warriors are 7-0 against the Eastern Conference.

GREEN'S FINGER

The Warriors survived a scare when Green tumbled into a row of photographers on the baseline following a missed layup in the opening minutes. The team said he sprained his right thumb and X-rays were negative. Green returned with his thumb and wrist taped. He finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists -- and the game-saving steal.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

"That's why he's Steph Curry." -- Kerr on the game-winning shot.