He also secured Green’s stubborn last assist in the fourth quarter, canning a 26-footer after several misses to finish off the forward’s latest triple-double.
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For all the focus on reigning MVP Stephen Curry and his ascension to the top of the NBA’s totem pole of stars, there’s a case to be made that their do-everything forward is just as important to the Warriors’ winning formula as their all-everything point guard. He scored on a layup in the third quarter, but not without taking contact from the Lakers’ Roy Hibbert. “Long term, it’s not something that I have to worry about”. That’s to say nothing of Green’s passion, energy, and intelligence, which keep the Warriors in every game they play, regardless of the circumstances. Of course, he won’t sit out that amount of time to get rid of all the swelling. “Again, I keep saying it feels better, so that’s a good sign”.
“Nothing surprises me with him”, Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said of Curry. This also happened to be a night the Hornets were honoring Dell, and Steph spoiled that with a 40 point game on “Dell Curry night” So, what else does Steph have in plan for Dell?
“I thought a couple of weeks, it’d be fine”, he said. When you’re the best offensive player alive, it’s not the man in front of you that you worry about, it’s the second guy. Kobe (Bryant) wouldn’t sit out for anything.
It’s not necessarily that the Hornets played terribly – Golden State is just that good.
“We did do some good things but we did a lot of things that we shouldn’t have done as well”, Walker said.
The Warriors are showing signs of mortality, lately, though. Thompson and Speights had six points apiece in the run, Thompson hitting a pair of 3-pointers, while Speights took the more conventional three-hoop route to his half-dozen. This season, the same second unit had been a liability for Walton, forcing him to play chicken with the reentry point for his starters in the second and fourth quarters. But Thompson coming out firing with 22 points in the first against the Lakers was a sight to see.
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson drives the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement.
Thompson had 22 points in the first 11 minutes, hitting four 3-pointers and going 9 for 14 from the field.
Thompson was a first-time All-Star last season and could very well be back again this season despite Bryant dominating the sentimental vote in what he has said will be his final season before retiring. And because Green only had one in his first three seasons, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook (a league-leading 11 last season and three so far this season) remains the modern-day triple-double king. “He’s been playing at a high level, it’s nice that he’s back at that all-star level”.
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The continued stretch of outstanding games has helped Golden State through a rough patch without much to worry about, losing only one game without Barnes, Festus Ezeli, Leandro Barbosa, and for almost a dozen quarters, Stephen Curry.
