Warriors 109, Lakers 88
LOS ANGELES -- Guard Klay Thompson scored 22 of his 36 points in the first quarter, and the Golden State Warriors pounded the Los Angeles Lakers 109-88 Tuesday at Staples Center.
Thompson scored 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Thompson had 30 Monday night in a 111-101 home win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Guard Stephen Curry added 17 points, six assists and three steals for the Warriors (33-2), who have won nine of their past 10 since the Milwaukee Bucks ended their NBA-record 24-0 start.
Forward Draymond Green's string of consecutive triple-doubles ended at three. Green finished with nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Guard Jordan Clarkson led the Lakers (8-28) with 23 points.
A 26-7, third-quarter run by the Warriors allowed them to bury the Lakers for the second time this season. They also beat Los Angeles 111-77 on Nov. 24 to become the first NBA team to open a season 16-0.
Thompson got the Warriors off and running in this affair with a sizzling first quarter, connecting on nine of 14 shots from the floor, including four of seven 3-pointers. Golden State led 37-25 after one quarter and increased the margin to 62-47 at the break.
The Warriors built their first-half advantage without taking a foul shot, while the Lakers hit 16 of 20 attempts. The Warriors, though, made up for it by converting 52 percent of their shots from the floor and 55.6 percent from 3-point range. The Lakers managed 33.3 percent on field goals and 3-pointers.
Overall, the Warriors made 46.5 percent of their shots to 31.9 percent for the Lakers. Golden State shot 13-for-30 (43.3 percent) on 3-pointers to 5-for-21 (23.8 percent) for Los Angeles.
The Lakers made 25 of 30 foul shots, while the Warriors hit 16 of 21.
Los Angeles was without forward Kobe Bryant, who missed his third consecutive game due to a sore right shoulder, and rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell, sidelined because of a sore throat.
For the Warriors, guard Leandro Barbosa (left shoulder sprain) and James Michael McAdoo (sprained toe) were unavailable. Golden State also rested center Festus Ezeli and guard Shaun Livingston.
NOTES: Lakers coach Byron Scott and F Julius Randle have moved on from their spat following the club's win Sunday over the Phoenix Suns, according to Scott. The coach was critical of Randle's maturity after the second-year pro expressed dismay with being pulled in the fourth quarter. "Julius, like I said, even what I said the other day about he has to grow up and be a little more mature, it's the truth," Scott said. "But he's a guy who I love, I love his energy, I love how hard he plays and I just want him to continue to grow in that department." ... Los Angeles visits the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, while Golden State plays the Trail Blazers at Portland on Friday.