National Basketball Association

Thompson, Curry lead Warriors to lopsided win over Hornets

Published Nov. 16, 2014 1:45 a.m. ET

foxsports

Steve Kerr didn't have to do much talking over the final six minutes of the second quarter.

The way his Golden State Warriors were shooting, the normally demonstrative and outspoken first-year coach was able to sit back and relax.

Klay Thompson scored 21 points, Stephen Curry added 19 points and nine assists, and Golden State beat the Charlotte Hornets 112-87 on Saturday night to extend its best start in 20 years.

The Warriors took control midway through the second quarter, 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 period after going scoreless in the first.

"It's fun to watch when we're clicking, we're not calling any plays, we're just defending and pushing the ball and sharing," Kerr said. "We had a stretch like that against the Clippers. The difference tonight was we followed through and we kept playing."

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 7-2 start of the 1994-95 Golden State team.

"From the start we came out focused," Bogut said. "We haven't had the best record against them the last couple of years. After the first quarter they weren't ever in the game."

Al Jefferson had 19 points and six rebounds for Charlotte. Lance Stephenson added 16 points.

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.

"There are only a few teams in the league that can get hot like that," Jefferson said. "We played two of them back-to-back. They just make you pay on every mistake."

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.

Charlotte's first-round pick, forward Noah Vonleh, took one shot and was scoreless in almost 6 minutes of his NBA debut.

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.

BETTER SLATE THAN NEVER

The Warriors ditched their usual home colors in favor of an all-gray uniform the team terms a "slate" color, with two white stripes going up the sides of the shorts and jerseys. Golden State will wear the slate uniforms for every Saturday game, home and away.

UP NEXT

Hornets: Host Dallas on Monday.

Warriors: Visit Lakers on Sunday night.