OAKLAND – The ball was moving, shots were falling, the defense was masterful and it all added up to the Warriors' best performance this season.
Six Warriors scored in double figures, led by Klay Thompson's 21 points, in a 112-87 annihilation of the Charlotte Hornets before the 87th consecutive sellout crowd (19,596) Saturday night at Oracle Arena.
The win pushed the Warriors to 7-2 for the first time since 1994-95.
Thompson scored 16 of his points during a torrid nine-minute stretch of the second quarter. Stephen Curry finished with 19 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Harrison Barnes put in 17, with Marreese Speights and Andrew Bogut adding 13 apiece.
The Warriors shot 55.1 percent through the first three quarters, taking a 96-68 lead that prompted coach Steve Kerr to empty his bench.
The Warriors had 27 assists and only nine turnovers through three quarters and finished with 30 and 15 – the second consecutive game they were well below their average.
The Hornets (4-6) were led by center Al Jefferson, who finished with i9 points.
STANDOUT PERFORMER: Thompson gets the "game ball'' for leading the charge at both ends, but this was such a comprehensive effort that everybody in a Warriors uniform gets to put their hands on it.
Even though Jefferson outscored Bogut, the Warriors big man won the battle of the starting centers. Bogut finished with nine rebounds, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes.
TURNING POINT: Up 39-34 with 7:09 left in the second quarter, the Warriors went on a 25-5 run in less than six minutes, taking a 64-39 lead 1:23 before the half.
Thompson (10) and Curry (8) combined for 18 of the 25 points to lead the rally.
The Hornets never got closer than 20 after that. They missed seven of nine shots during the second-quarter stretch, with three turnovers, shooting 36.8 percent for the quarter.
INJURY UPDATE: F David Lee (strained left hamstring) is out indefinitely and is scheduled to undergo reevaluation next week.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Warriors left immediately after the game for Los Angeles, where on Sunday night at 6:30 they will meet the Lakers at Staples Center.
