OAKLAND, Calif. – Klay Thompson scored 21 points, Stephen Curry added 19 points and nine assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Charlotte Hornets 112-87 on Saturday night to extend their best start in 20 years.
Andrew Bogut had 13 points and nine rebounds, Harrison Barnes scored 17 points and Marreese Speights had 13 off the bench to help Golden State to its second straight win following consecutive losses.
The Warriors (7-2) went into the game leading the NBA in shooting percentage and kept that pace up against the Hornets. They made 11 3-pointers, controlled the boards and held a 48-30 edge in the paint.
It kept the Warriors atop the Pacific Division and matched the start of the 1994-95 Golden State team.
Al Jefferson had 19 points and six rebounds for Charlotte. Lance Stephenson added 16 points.
Golden State took control in the final 6 minutes of the first half, making six 3-pointers to extend a five-point lead to 67-46 at halftime. Thompson had three of them and scored 16 points in the second quarter after going scoreless in the first.
The Warriors pushed the lead to 30 in the third quarter and Curry punctuated the period when he pulled up for a 3-pointer at the buzzer, then leaped into the air to high-five his 7-foot teammate Bogut.
Charlotte, playing the second half of a back-to-back after beating the Suns on Friday, couldn't keep up.
The banged-up Hornets shot only 38 percent and got only 11 points combined from starters P.J. Hairston, Marvin Williams and Kemba Walker. Williams, slowed by left knee tendinitis, was held scoreless in 15 minutes.
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TIP-INS
Hornets: G Gary Neal left the game with 3:10 left in the first half after suffering a concussion during an offensive possession. Neal remained down on the court for several moments before being helped to his feet and taken to the locker room. ... F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist remained out after sustaining a stress reaction in his right foot during Tuesday's loss at Portland. ... Walker was held scoreless for the first 19:49 and finished with eight points.
Warriors: The game was Thompson's 200th start in the NBA. ... Golden State has sold out 87 consecutive games dating to Dec. 18, 2012. ... Festus Ezeli had a season-high eight points with five rebounds in 12 minutes. The 2012 first-round pick is still recovering after missing all of 2013 following right knee surgery.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Host Dallas on Monday.
Warriors: Visit Lakers on Sunday night.
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