OAKLAND -– The Warriors started slowly, looking uninspired and out of sync. Until Klay Thompson shook them from their slumber.
Thompson scored 40 points to lift the Warriors past the Indiana Pacers and to a 117-102 victory Wednesday night before the 98th consecutive sellout crowd at Oracle Arena.
In taking their fifth consecutive game overall, the Warriors (28-5) won their 13th in a row at home. They are 15-1 at Oracle this season, their one loss to the defending champion Spurs on Nov. 11.
The game featured the return of center Andrew Bogut, who missed 12 games with knee soreness. He played 15 minutes, finishing with four points and eight rebounds.
The Warriors trailed for most of the first half, as the bigger Pacers repeatedly strolled through the paint while the Warriors had trouble generating offense; they shot 39.6 percent in the first half.
But with Thompson's 27-point second half providing the energy, the Warriors were able to separate from the Pacers (14-23) after halftime.
Three other Warriors scored in double figures, led by Stephen Curry who finished with 21 points – including the 1,000 3-pointer of his career. Curry, who turns 27 in March, became the youngest player ever to reach that milestone. Marreese Speights totaled 18 points and David Lee came off the bench to put in 13.
Solomon Hill led Indiana with 21 points.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Thompson gets the trophy for this game. With the Warriors floundering on offense, he came to the rescue.
Thompson scored 15 points in the third quarter.
Curry played a solid floor game, finishing with 15 assists.
TURNING POINT
After trailing 46-39 with 3:16 left in the first half, the Warriors fashioned a 25-5 run that spanned the rest of the second quarter and the early third quarter, taking a 64-51 lead with 8:45 left in the third quarter.
Thompson had 13 of the 25 points during the run, which was punctuated by a highlight-worthy follow slam by Harrison Barnes that provided a 13-point lead.
The Pacers hung around, pulling to within one, but they never again tied or took the lead.
INJURY UPDATE
C Andrew Bogut (chondromalacia and bone edema, right knee) initially was listed as out, but was upgraded an hour before tipoff and cleared to play. C Festus Ezeli (sprained left ankle) remains out indefinitely.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Warriors on Friday night play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena.
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