Klay Thompson (right) of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball during their game against the Phoenix Suns at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, on Wednesday. (AFP)

DPA/Los Angeles


Klay Thompson shot lights out on Wednesday and the Golden State Warriors got back to their winning ways.
Thompson fired in 27 of his season-high 43 points in the third quarter, and reigning league MVP Stephen Curry added 25, as the league-best Warriors walloped the visiting Phoenix Suns 128-103.
“My teammates know when I’m in a zone like that and try to get me the ball,” said Thompson, who shot 15-of-22 from the field and 8-of-13 on 3-pointers. “When I’m in a groove all I need is a little space to get my shots up.”
“When Klay gets going,” said Curry, “there’s nothing better to watch.”
The Warriors had won 28 consecutive games, including a record 24 to start the season. But playing their seventh straight road game, the weary defending NBA Champs were beaten 108-95 by the host Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.   
After a much-needed three-day lay-off, the well-rested Warriors got back on track with a dominating performance against the helpless Suns (11-16).
“We want to start another streak and see how far it goes,” Curry added. “We want to take our game to another level.”
Draymond Green posted a triple-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the Warriors (25-1) who buried 15-of-32 triples en route to their 29th consecutive victory at Oracle Arena dating back to last season.
The Warriors trailed 42-38 with four minutes left in the second quarter but closed on a 21-4 to go ahead 59-46 at half-time.
Thompson and Curry put on a clinic, combining for 40 points on 14-of-16 shooting in a 46-19 third quarter blitz, and the Warriors carried a commanding 105-65 cushion into the final frame and cruised to the lopsided win.   
“You knew he was hot but didn’t realize how hot he was,” Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton said of Thompson.
“When Klay or Steph get going they’re such great shooters its incredible what they do in the difficult shots they make look easy.  It was impressive.”

Elsewhere
San Antonio 114, Washington Wizards 95: Kawhi Leonard scored 11 of 27 points in a decisive 31-19 third quarter and the Spurs (22-5) set a franchise-record with their 23rd consecutive home win, including 14-0 to start the season, after whipping the Wizards (10-14).

Indiana Pacers 107, Dallas Mavericks 81: C.J. Miles scored 20 points and Monta Ellis added 13 of his 19 in the pivotal 30-17 third quarter, and the Pacers (15-9) routed the visiting Mavericks (14-12).
New York Knicks 107, Minnesota Timberwolves 102: Arron Afflalo scored 29 points, including four free throws in the final 10 seconds, while Carmelo Anthony added 20 with 15 rebounds and nine assists, as the Knicks (12-14) sent the visiting T-Wolves to their fourth straight loss after nearly blowing a 22-point third quarter cushion.
Rookie Karl Anthony Towns had 25 and 10 rebounds for Minnesota (9-16) while Spaniard Ricky Rubio finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists and eight steals.

Orlando Magic 113, Charlotte Hornets 98: Channing Frye drilled five triples en route to a season-high 17 points, Frenchman Eric Fournier had 15 and the host Magic (14-11) crushed the visiting Hornets (14-10).

Miami Heat 104, Brooklyn Nets 98: Dwyane Wade scored 28 points, including a key runner with 43.5 seconds left, Hassan Whiteside added 20 with 13 rebounds, and the visiting Heat (15-9) won its third in a row after clipping the Nets (7-18).

Chicago Bulls 98, Memphis Grizzlies 85: Jimmy Butler netted 24 points, Derrick Rose had 19 and the host Bulls (15-8) won their fourth in a row, after limiting the visiting Grizzlies (14-13) to just 32 second-half points.

Detroit Pistons 119, Boston Celtics 116: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope dropped in a career-high 31 points, including two free throws with 14.4 seconds left, Reggie Jackson added 23, and the Pistons (15-12) withstood Isaiah Thomas’ personal-best 38 points to hold off visiting Celtics (14-12).

Oklahoma City Thunder 106, Portland Trail Blazers 90: Kevin Durant scored 15 of his 24 points in the pivotal third quarter, and the Thunder (16-8) rolled to its sixth straight win, after topping the visiting Trail Blazers (11-16) led by C.J. McCollum’s 24.

Atlanta Hawks 127, Philadelphia 76ers 106: Paul Millsap scored 21 points, Jeff Teague added 18, and the host Hawks (15-12) stopped a three-game slide while dropping the league-worst Sixers (1-26) to 0-16 on the road despite Isaiah Canaan’s season-best 24 points.

New Orleans Pelicans 104, Utah Jazz 94: Ryan Anderson scored 24 off the bench, Anthony Davis had 17 with 13 rebounds and the visiting Pelicans (7-18) used a 31-15 fourth quarter to beat the Jazz (10-14).  

LA Clippers 103, Milwaukee Bucks 90: Chris Paul scored 21  points, J.J. Redick added 19 and the Clippers (16-10) overcame the third-quarter ejection of centre DeAndre Jordan for their ninth win in 11 games while extending the Bucks’ (10-17) road  slide to 11.