LOS ANGELES – The Splash Brothers took turns drenching the Lakers, leading the Warriors to a 120-105 preseason victory Thursday night at Staples Center.
Klay Thompson scored 25 points and Stephen Curry tossed in 20, as the Warriors shredded the Los Angeles defense for 56-percent shooting in the rout.
David Lee added 12 points and Harrison Barnes finished with 11.
Two nights after massaging the Warriors to a close win over the Clippers, rookie coach Steve Kerr spent most of the evening looking rather relaxed and content. Why not? The Warriors owned this one from the start.
STANDOUT PERFORMER: Thompson. He had 11 in the first five minutes and 20 for the first half, shooting from distance and driving to the hoop.
Curry joined in the fun in the second half, scoring 14 points in 10 minutes. He scored 9 consecutive Warriors points late in the third quarter.
Center Andrew Bogut scored only 4 points, but was a defensive force, with four blocks in 24 minutes. He did not return after walking off with 5:38 left in the third quarter after being knocked to the floor while setting a screen.
TURNING POINT: The Warriors led throughout but took over the game late in the first half, going on a 14-2 run over the final 3:29 to take a 62-44 lead into the break. Thompson (5) and Lee (4) combined for 9 points during the blitz.
The Warriors needed a little more than five minutes to take their first double-digit lead, going up 19-8 with 6:54 left in the half. Only once in the second half did the Lakers cut the deficit to single digits, 73-64, with 5:19 left in the third quarter.
OF NOTE: After using 14 players in the preseason opener on Tuesday, Kerr played 15 on Thursday. Jason Kapono made his debut, dropping in a pair of jumpers.
KOBE WATCH: The Lakers superstar scored 15 points in 23 minutes. Making a comeback after two serious injuries requiring extensive rehabilitation, Bryant was smooth and energetic. He looks capable of a few more highlights
INJURY UPDATE: Andre Iguodala was hit in the face before halftime and walked into the locker room with trainers. He remained in uniform but did not return to action.
G Shaun Livingston (right big toe surgery) and C Festus Ezeli (right shin inflammation) both suited up but remain out indefinitely. Ezeli has been with the team all week. Livingston arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Warriors will remain in Southern California all week, facing the Lakers again on Sunday in Ontario, before returning to the Bay Area.
