Warriors 101, Hornets 92
WARRIORS 101, HORNETS 92: Rookie Klay Thompson continued to impress with a season-high 27 points, five rebounds and five assists as visiting Golden State snapped a four-game slide.
David Lee added 25 points and 11 rebounds and Brandon Rush scored 16 off the bench for the Warriors, who hit 14 3-pointers.
Safely out on the road after their home fans informed ownership of their displeasure during Monday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Warriors looked ready to hand the game to New Orleans after falling behind 58-51 early in the third quarter.
Golden State began to get hot from there as Dorell Wright and Thompson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to quickly shift the momentum. Thompson’s traditional three-point play and another from beyond the arc by Rush made it a 12-2 burst and put the Warriors ahead 63-60.
Breaking out from long range again at the start of the fourth quarter, Richard Jefferson hit a pair of 3-pointers while Nate Robinson and Rush added one apiece during a 17-7 spurt that made it 92-79 with 5:50 to play.
New Orleans, which fell to a league-worst 4-20 at home, would not get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
Thompson, who is settling into the spot vacated by the Ellis trade, went 4 for 8 from beyond the arc and is averaging 20.0 points in six games since joining the starting lineup.
Jarrett Jack recorded 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the Hornets.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New Orleans center Chris Kaman had 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks. … The Hornets did not attempt a free throw in the first half … Golden State was outrebounded 47-33.