Curry cranks it up to crush Cavs

Stephen steals show as tensions flare between LeBron and Green

Now everybody can sit back for a few months and envision the possibility of another scintillating NBA Finals between Cleveland and Golden State.

LeBron James versus Stephen Curry for the third straight time, complete with the hard-nosed play of Draymond Green, dazzling dunks from Kevin Durant and sharp shooting from Kyrie Irving.

Monday's regular-season round went to the Warriors, who dominated from the start. It wasn't even close, as the defending champion Cavs were dismantled on the very floor where they captured the franchise's first title last June.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a bucket against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The two-time league MVP hit five 3-pointers and scored 20 points while matching his season best with 11 assists in the Warriors' 126-91 rout of the reigning NBA champions. Ben Margot / AP

Curry and his superstar supporting cast certainly looked ready to trade more postseason blows with Cleveland. The two-time reigning MVP hit five 3-pointers on the way to 20 points while matching his season best with 11 assists in Golden State's 126-91 rout.

"This is high-quality basketball, at its highest level," Curry said.

"This is the kind of atmosphere you live for. Whether you win or lose, regular season, playoffs, whatever, playing in that kind of environment is always fun."

Klay Thompson scored 26 points with five 3s, and Green produced his third triple-double of the season with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. He also equaled his career best with five blocks - and had another confrontation with King James in the process.

James had 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting and eight rebounds. But he and Green became the talk once more as their relationship again turned testy.

"I don't think it's a rivalry," James reiterated. "It's two great teams that have aspirations. I don't believe I've ever had a rivalry in the NBA."

Durant added 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the Warriors in a much-hyped rematch after Golden State lost 109-108 in Cleveland on Christmas.

The Warriors squandered a 14-point lead that day in a loss that fueled them going into Monday.

They relinquished a 3-1 advantage in the Finals last year, a failure that motivates them to return to the big stage. And the teams' latest holiday game marked the Cavs' first trip back to Oracle Arena since capturing the title on enemy territory seven months ago.

Irving - who hit game-winners against Golden State in the past two matchups, including the championship clincher - scored 17 points on an uncharacteristic day for the Cavs as they committed 15 turnovers to just 11 assists.

"They did what they were supposed to do," Irving said. "Right from the start, they jumped on us and never looked back."

Cleveland shot just 35.2 percent (31 for 88) overall. Beyond embarrassed, Cavs players dejectedly headed for the tunnel even before the final buzzer sounded.

The latest altercation between Green and James came with 6:55 left in the first half.

Golden State led 52-35 when James collided with Green near midcourt, resulting in a flagrant 1 foul on Golden State's emotional All-Star.

Green's arm extended across the upper body of James, who went down hard. Green reacted by appearing to mock James for flopping.

After a long replay review, a double technical was called on Green and Richard Jefferson.

After Curry's pull-up 3 moments before halftime sent his team into the break with a 78-49 lead, the star guard did what looked like a little celebratory breakdancing move on his behind at the sideline.

You can bet this one felt like more than just any game to the Warriors, who were looking to regain some swagger in this rivalry after Cleveland won the past four meetings.

"To me it was because they beat us four straight times and that's never fun when a team has your number for four games. So it felt really good to redeem ourselves," Thompson said.

Durant, new to the rivalry this season, appeared downright possessed.

KD's driving, emphatic tomahawk jam 1:43 before halftime sent Oracle Arena's sellout crowd into a frenzy.

With this one in the books, these teams are done with each other - for the time being.

Sprain tempers Clippers' gain

The last time Chris Paul went down with an injury, the Los Angeles Clippers went into a tailspin.

They're hoping it doesn't happen again.

JJ Redick scored 20 points and DeAndre Jordan had 19 points and 15 rebounds as the streaking Clippers overcame Paul's latest injury to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-98 on Monday.

The banged-up Clippers tied a franchise record for their best start to a calendar year at 7-0. The team began 1974 with the same mark when the franchise was located in Buffalo.

Los Angeles owns the NBA's longest active winning streak despite being without injured star Blake Griffin. Paul sprained his left thumb in the second quarter of this one and didn't return.

"You worry when he doesn't come back out in the second half," Redick said. "Hopefully, it's not serious, but if it is, Blake is going to be back soon. We'll just continue to play."

Last month, Paul sat out with a left hamstring strain and the Clippers lost six in a row. He came back shortly after their current winning streak began.

Coach Doc Rivers said an initial X-ray on Paul's thumb was negative and the star point guard was set to have an MRI on Tuesday.

Rivers didn't see the play but said he was told Russell Westbrook came down on Paul's thumb.

Westbrook scored 24 points on 7-of-19 shooting in three quarters for the Thunder, the last team to beat the Clippers - on New Year's Eve - before the calendar turned and their winning streak began. He was the only starter in double figures for Oklahoma City.