The Warriors continued their recent mastery of the once-powerful Lakers, running away with a 109-88 triumph Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Klay Thompson scored 22 points in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 36 in 31 minutes. Stephen Curry tossed in 17 points and Marreese Speights scored in double figures for the second game in a row, with 12 points, and Harrison Barnes added 10.
Curry took another blow to his tender left shin in the third quarter but remained in the game for another five minutes before heading to the locker room for good. The defending champions were well in command by then, taking a 92-60 lead into the fourth quarter.
Neither Draymond Green (nine points, 12 rebounds, five assists) nor Curry played in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors, who led by as much as 33 points, held Los Angeles (8-28) to 31.9-percent shooting in putting an end to the Lakers’ three-game win streak.
The Warriors (33-2) over the past two-plus seasons have won eight of the last 10 meetings against the Lakers – after going 2-18 against them over the previous five seasons.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
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Thompson wins the honor for providing a scoring punch that allowed the Warriors to assert themselves from the outset. His 22-point first quarter represented the fourth time he has scored 20 or more in a quarter.
Thompson’s line: 36 points (12-of-22 from the field, 6-of-12 from deep), two rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot. He was plus-31 in the Plus/Minus category.
TURNING POINT
After a Lou Williams free throw brought the Lakers within 11 (66-55) with 8:04 left in the third quarter, the Warriors responded with a 22-0 run to take an 88-55 lead with 2:30 remaining in the quarter.
Thompson scored 10 points during the run, which was ignited by a layup by Curry on which his sore left shin banged against the leg of 7-foot-2, 290-pound Lakers center Roy Hibbert.
The Warriors during the run limited LA to 0-of-11 shooting, with three turnovers. Los Angeles scored 13 points in the quarter, the lowest-scoring third quarter by any Warriors opponent this season.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: G Leandro Barbosa (L shoulder sprain) and F James Michael McAdoo (L foot, toe sprain) were listed as out.
Lakers: F Kobe Bryant (R shoulder soreness) and G D’Angelo Russell (sore throat) were listed as questionable and declared out prior to tipoff.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Warriors return to action Friday night, when they face the Trail Blazers at Moda Center in Portland. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
