SPORT / MISCELLANY
Wizards upset Jazz
Curry scores 53, makes history in Warriors’ win
Published: Apr 13, 2021 05:13 PM
Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards shoots over Miye Oni of the Utah Jazz on Monday in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: VCG

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards shoots over Miye Oni of the Utah Jazz on Monday in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: VCG



Bradley Beal scored 34 points and Russell Westbrook bagged a triple double as the Washington Wizards ended the Utah Jazz's 24-game home winning streak with a 125-121 victory in Salt Lake City on Monday.

Donovan Mitchell delivered a 42-point gem for Utah but could not prevent the under-­strength Western Conference leaders from sliding to a surprise defeat against a Wizards team struggling near the foot of the East.

Utah, with Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson absent from the lineup, looked to be racing towards a 25th straight home victory after a dazzling opening quarter saw them put up 42 points.

Mitchell contributed 17 points in that burst of ­early scoring, but Washington responded superbly to outscore Utah 37-23 in the second for a 70-65 halftime lead.

Washington took control in the third period with a 19-8 run, and with Mitchell's touch suddenly deserting him, Utah were left chasing the game in the fourth.

Beal's 34-point display was complemented by Westbrook's triple, with the 2017 NBA MVP finishing with 25 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists.

Steph Curry erupted with 53 points to pass Wilt Chamberlain's all-time Golden State scoring record on Monday as the Warriors downed the Denver Nuggets 116-107.

Curry - who started the game needing only 19 points to overtake Chamberlain's tally of 17,783 points set between 1959 and 1965 - broke the record in a hurry, rattling in 21 points in the first quarter.

The 33-year-old passed Chamberlain's mark with a driving layup towards the end of the first quarter, raising his arms in jubilation to acknowledge the milestone.

Curry's final points haul included 10 three-pointers with seven rebounds and four assists.

"This is special man," Curry said afterward. "Now we've got the win, I can process what just happened.

"These last 12 years, all the teammates I've played with, the coaching staff, the ownership, our fans - I've had some amazing experiences here."

Curry, selected by the Warriors with the seventh overall pick in the draft in 2009, acknowledged that it had taken him longer to reach Chamberlain's tally.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Julius Randle scored 34 points as the New York Knicks ­routed the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-96.

The NBA champions coughed up 25 turnovers as the Knicks romped to victory, with Elfrid Payton adding 20 points and Derrick Rose 14.

The Lakers face a quick turnaround against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday before wrapping up their eight-game road trip in Boston on Thursday.