CURRY IS ON FIRE:Warriors star shines as Cavs maul Grizzlies

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past New Orleans forward Anthony Davis (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans

Stephen Curry scored 30 points to win his duel with Anthony Davis as the Golden State Warriors dug deep to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Cavaliers demolished Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

Reigning NBA MVP Curry’s haul in a 113-109 victory included five three-pointers as well as four rebounds and seven assists to boost the Warriors to 22-4 for the season.

Davis, second only to Russell Westbrook in the points scoring charts this season, averaging just over 30 per game, scored 28 points in the Pelicans’ losing effort.

Davis also pulled down eight rebounds and produced three assists, but ultimately the Warriors had too much firepower for the home team.

Kevin Durant added 27 points for the Dubs, while Klay Thompson finished with 17 and Draymond Green made his first triple double of the season -12 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists.

Green also single-handedly stifled Davis in the final 4:48, preventing the Pelicans from making a single field goal.

“Draymond loves being in that situation,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He relishes it. He really does, even against a guy like Anthony Davis, who’s so good. He’s a nasty defender.”

In Cleveland, Kevin Love scored 29 points as the Cavaliers shrugged off the absence of Kyrie Irving to down the Memphis Grizzlies 103-86.

Irving was given the night off after complaining of fatigue in his legs after last weekend’s victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

But the 24-year-old point guard’s absence was barely felt as Cleveland romped home thanks to Love and LeBron James, who chipped in with 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Love also contributed 13 rebounds, while J.R. Smith filled the void left by Irving to weigh in with a 23-point haul which included six three-pointers.

The victory saw the NBA champion Cavaliers improve to 18-5, tightening their grip at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Zach Randolph led the scoring for the Grizzlies with 18 points and five rebounds as the visitors rested All-Star center Marc Gasol.

Andrew Harrison and Troy Williams scored 13 points for Memphis who fell to 17-9.

Tuesday night’s game at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena was the first of back-to-back games between the two sides. The Cavaliers were expected to face the Grizzlies again yesterday night at Memphis’s FedEx Forum.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said afterwards he had purposely chosen James and Love on Tuesday, rather than split the duo up over the two games.

“We’re home to play in front of our fans... So, with two of the Big Three, I know we can win that game,” Lue said.