NBA MVP Curry scores 40 points, Warriors win opener

NBA commissioner Adam Silver congratulates Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena.  [Photo/Agencies]

Anthony Davis, who averaged 29.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in two games against Golden State last season, shot 4 for 20 and scored 10 of his 18 points on free throws. In his Pelicans debut, Kendrick Perkins battled Andrew Bogut down low and made all five of his field-goal tries for 10 points.

Curry walked out to receive his ring to chants of "M-V-P!" from the raucous sellout crowd in blue 2015 champion T-shirts, then thanked the fans.

"This is an unbelievable day," Curry said. "We would not have been able to do what we did last year with your guys' support."

Curry's had the second-most points by a reigning MVP in an opener since 1963-64, according to STATS. Milwaukee's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 41 on Oct. 13, 1972, against Phoenix.