Hot-shot Klay Thompson filled up the basket on Easter Sunday.
Thompson fired in 40 points, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 117-105 victory over the league-worst Philadelphia 76ers, and extend their NBA-record home winning streak to 53 games, with 35 coming this season at Oracle Arena. Thompson recorded his fourth game of 40 or more points this season and his first-ever back-to-back.
“I’m in a good zone, not forcing anything and playing within the offence while trying to be aggressive,” said Thompson, who hit 15-of-27 field goals and 7-of-14 3-pointers.
“I can be a great shooter in this league and scorer if I just stay within myself.”
Reigning league MVP Stephen Curry, who had a quiet 20-point outing, said his fellow-Splash Brother has caught fire at the right time. “Klay is playing at a very high-level; he’s being very aggressive, very confident,” the league top scorer offered. “It’s good timing to keep our momentum going heading into the playoffs.”
Marresse Speights tossed in 17 points off the bench while Draymond Green had his 12th triple-double of the season, with 13 points, 11 rebounds and as many assists for the Golden State (66-7), which needs to finish 7-2 to break the NBA-record of 72 victories set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.      
“Our guys are fantastic, they just keep doing it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
“It’s not as easy as it looks. They genuinely like each other, they like winning and it shows.”
The Warriors led by just one after the first quarter before receiving a much-needed spark Speights and the second unit.
The defending NBA Champs hit a sizzling 16-of-21 shots and outscored the Sixers 39-24 in the second quarter, including 31-15 after being knotted at 40-apiece, to take a 71-55 cushion into the locker room. Thompson led the way with 19 points, while Speights had 11 of his 15 in the second period. “Mo was terrific for us,” Kerr said of Speights. “The key stretch was in the second quarter when Ian Clark, Brandon Rush, Leandro Barbosa along with (starter) Harrison Barnes made a big push. ‘That opened up the game and gave us that lead we were comfortable with the rest of the night.”
The Warriors stayed comfortably ahead and never allowed the lead to dip below 11 in the second half. Carl Landry had 22 points, Ish Smith added 20 for the Sixers (9-65), who lost their ninth straight and 22 of its last 23.
Elsewhere:
LA Clippers 105, Denver Nuggets 90: DeAndre Jordan had 16 points, 16 rebounds and six blocked shots, as the Clippers sailed past the visiting Nuggets to clinch their fifth consecutive playoff berth.
Chris Paul and reserve Jamal Crawford had 14 points apiece for the Clippers (45-27), who used a game-breaking 25-12 third quarter en route to their second straight win following a three-game slide. Prior to the game, the Clippers activated Blake Griffin who began serving a team-imposed four-game suspension. The All-Star forward is expected to return on April 3 against Washington after being sidelined since December 25 with a quadriceps injury, and punching an assistant equipment manager in January. Jusuf Nurkic led Denver (31-43) with a game-high 19 points.
Indiana Pacers 104, Houston Rockets 101: Paul George scored 25 points, Monta Ellis had 23, and the Pacers (38-34) regrouped to beat the visiting Rockets after blowing a 16-point third-quarter cushion. The win eliminated New York, Orlando and Milwaukee from pot-season contention. James Harden had 34 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for Houston (35-37), which still occupies the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoff race despite its second straight loss.
Sacramento Kings 133, Dallas Mavericks 111: Willie Cauley-Stein led eight players in doubles figures with 21 points, DeMarcus Cousins had 20 and 12 rebounds as the Kings (29-44) manhandled the visiting Mavericks. Dallas (35-38), remains a half game behind Houston for the final playoff spot West despite its eighth loss in 10 games.
Washington Wizards 101, LA Lakers 88: John Wall had 22 points with 13 assists, Marcin Gortat added 16 points with 13 rebounds, and the visiting Wizards coasted past the lowly Lakers. The victory pulled the Wizards (36-37) within two games of idle Detroit for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
D’Angelo Russell scored 22 points while Kobe Bryant added 17 in 23 minutes for the lowly Lakers (15-58), who have lost seven of eight.