Durant leads defending NBA champions Warriors after missing a game

OAKLAND, California: Nah, that slow start didn’t last long for the defending NBA champions.
Draymond Green knew they’d be just fine.
“We know what we’re capable of,” he said, “we just needed to lock in and focus.”
And Golden State is getting better by the game — balanced, getting better on both ends, doing all the little things that were discussed all summer.
Kevin Durant returned from missing one game with a leg injury to finish with 29 points, leading the Warriors past the Philadelphia 76ers 135-114 on Saturday night for their sixth straight win.
Green did his usual thing: 10 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, five blocks and two steals. Stephen Curry took a knee to his right quad muscle — similar to what Durant dealt with — but added 22 points and nine assists to surpass the 4,000-assist mark for his career and Klay Thompson scored 23 as the Warriors pulled away in the second half.
“It’s been great to have so many guys contribute so many guys contribute in different ways,” Green said. “That’s what we’ve talked about early on was our depth and guys have stepped up.”
Durant sat out Wednesday’s win against the Timberwolves with a bruised left thigh but hardly showed any signs of an issue. Curry, sporting new twisties in his hair, briefly went to the locker room early in the second but returned.
JJ Redick scored 17 points to lead the Sixers, who hung around for a half.
“You realize that there is zero margin of error,” coach Brett Brown said. “There is so much firepower on that team.”
The Warriors have won by 17 or more points in each game of this winning streak, averaging 122.8 points.
Golden State built its first double-digit lead of the night at 86-76 on Nick Young’s 3-pointer with 4:14 left in the third, and rolled from there getting another quick 3 by Young, one from Curry and a Durant jumper.
The Warriors won their ninth straight against the Sixers and sixth in a row at Oracle Arena.
76ers two-way player James Michael McAdoo received his Warriors championship ring in a pregame ceremony. He was cheered when he checked in for the first time midway through the fourth.
Coach Steve Kerr texted with him leading up to the game.
“I’m thrilled that he was here, and I thought it was a great gesture by the Sixers to make sure he was here,” Kerr said. “I know he’ll get a huge ovation from the crowd tonight, he deserves it.”