OAKLAND — Kevin Durant returned from a one-game absence Saturday and scored 29 points to power the Warriors to 135-114 thumping of the Philadelphia 76ers at Oracle Arena.
Stephen Curry put in 22 points, Klay Thompson 15 and Nick Young added 13 as the Warriors (10-3) won for the sixth consecutive time.
The Warriors shot a season-high 58.5 percent from the field, including 51.9 percent from deep, and a season-high 96.2 percent from the line in sending the Sixers (6-6) to their second loss in a row.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Durant’s line: 29 points (11-of-18 shooting from the field, including 3-of-6 beyond the arc, 4-of-4 from the line), five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. He played 28 minutes and finished plus-24 for the game.
Curry recorded a game-high nine assists, in the process becoming the second Warrior to reach the 4,000 mark in that statistic. He has 4,004. Guy Rodgers is the all-time franchise leader with 4,855.
TURNING POINT
Sports
After the Sixers pulled into a 74-74 tie on a Robert Covington 3-pointer with 7:29 left in the third quarter, the Warriors responded with a 20-4 run to take a 94-78 lead on a Nick Young triple with 2:36 left in the quarter.
The Warriors forced the 76ers into 2-of-7 shooting and three turnovers during the run and outscored them 36-21 in the quarter.
Philadelphia got no closer than 16 in the fourth quarter.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: Kevin Durant (L thigh bruise) was listed as probable and upgraded to available prior to tipoff. G/F Andre Iguodala (rest) was listed as out. C Damian Jones is on assignment with the G-League Santa Cruz Warriors.
76ers: G Jerryd Bayless (L wrist contusion), G Markelle Fultz (R shoulder soreness/scapular muscle imbalance) and G Nik Stauskas (R ankle sprain) were listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Warriors close out the four-game homestand Monday night, when they face the Orlando Magic at Oracle Arena. Coverage on NBC Sport Bay Area begins at 6:30, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30.
