Photo by Steve Yeater/NBAE via Getty Images

After losing to the Los Angeles Clippers last night, the Golden State Warriors were hoping to replicate the same formula they used last season to defeat the Chicago Bulls at Oracle Arena. Their defense smothered league MVP Derrick Rose as well as his teammates, by forcing them to take some tough contested shots.

Let’s look at who stepped up for the Warriors tonight.

Stephen Curry 21 points| 10 assists| 7 rebounds| 6 steals| 7-12 FGs

Although Curry sprained his ankle midway through the fourth quarter and was forced to sit out the remainder of the game, Curry submitted perhaps the best pure point guard performance of this young season. He scored when needed, fed his teammates, rebounded and jumped into passing lanes to snatch passes from the opposition. And just for good measure, he shot 58.3 percent from the field.

One does wonder mind you if Curry’s ankle troubles will be an issue for the immediate future given how important his presence and production is to the team.

Monta Ellis 26 points| 7 assists| 1 steal| 10-17 FGs

Ellis got started early, scoring 13 points in the first quarter and made his poor shooting performance against the Clippers a distant memory. Much like Curry, Monta figured out when to assert himself offensively and when to defer to teammates. Indeed, with Curry off the floor late in the fourth, the Bulls double-teamed the Warriors starting shooting guard at half-court; where Monta willingly gave up the ball to David Lee and trusted that he would consistently make the right plays down the stretch.

David Lee 22 points| 7 rebounds| 1 assist| 8-16 FGs

David Lee did a good job once again of converting the majority of his shots and also making good decisions. He caught the ball in traffic and finished, but was also a threat from midrange.

House of haunted horrors

For the second season in a row, the Bulls struggled in Golden State. They shot a mere 41.5 percent from the field and turned the ball over 20 times, which resulted in 20 Warriors points.

The player most affected by his surroundings though was none other than Derrick Rose, as the reigning MVP scored 13 points on four-for-17 field goal shooting.

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