OAKLAND — The Warriors will head into the All-Star break with the NBA’s best record (47-9) and on a high note after crushing the Kings 109-86 Wednesday night at Oracle Arena
Golden State cobbled together a lightning-quick 26-2 run in the third quarter, turning a relatively close game into an utter blowout in a matter of minutes.
Klay Thompson (35 points, 7/12 from deep) motored the unbelievable stretch with three 3-pointers, an acrobatic layup and a rare no-look pass that ended in Kevin Durant (21 points) dunk. Thompson flamed Sacramento for 17 points in the third quarter. Later on during the run, Steph Curry (13 points, 9 assists) lobbed a gorgeous underhand pass that JaVale McGee finished home on an Alley-oop.
It was as electric of a stretch Roaracle has seen all season and the quarter ended in a 42-15 advantage for Golden State.
Amid concerns that Durant’s arrival would hurt Thompson’s role, the shooting guard will enter the All-Star break averaging the same amount of shots (17.3) as he did last season. Steve Kerr and the players figured out a way to make this work. Kerr and his coaching staff will head down to New Orleans this weekend to coach the Western Conference squad.
Draymond Green picked up two technical fouls in the second quarter and was ejected from the game. DeMarcus Cousins (13 points, 4 rebounds) threw his body into Green, flailing up a wild hook shot, and Green was whistled for the foul. Not one to ever shy away from the referees, Green was quickly called for the first technical and kept chirping to earn a second. This was Green’s 11th technical of the season, five away from the 16 that qualifies him for an automatic suspension.
With Green in the locker room and Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) and David West (thumb) still injured, Patrick McCaw played an instrumental role in the third quarter. The rookie has gotten much more comfortable within the flow of the offense and has grown enough defensively to play switch defense on someone as large as Cousins. When he checked out in the third quarter, McCaw was a +28 in 9 minutes of action.
McGee continues to flourish in his starting role and finished the night with 8 points and 10 rebounds on 4/5 from the floor.
49ers GM John Lynch was in attendance at Wednesday’s game in a luxury box. Lynch was met with mostly cheers but some boos from the Raiders fans in attendance at Oracle Arena.
A fan proposed to his girlfriend in the second quarter, marking the 717th time that’s happened this season. Okay, maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration.
The Warriors will get eight days of rest before hosting the Clippers next Thursday in Oakland.