Warriors 125, Lakers 94
OAKLAND -- Klay Thompson buried three 3-pointers among 13 points in an eight-minute flurry as the Golden State Warriors opened the 2013-14 season on a rampage en route to a 125-94 crushing of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
Taking immediate advantage of a team playing its second game in two nights and doing so without Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, the Warriors ran to a 25-point lead in the first half and retained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
The win was the first-ever for the Warriors in a home season opener over the rival Lakers, who had opened their campaign with an impressive 116-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night at the Staples Center.
Bryant missed both games as he recovers from Achilles tendon surgery. Nash, who contributed three points and five assists to the win over the Clippers, is not playing back-to-backs to open the season as the club looks to limit the 39-year-old's minutes.
Thompson, who ranked third in the NBA in 3-pointers made last season with 211, connected on five in his season debut to account for nearly half his career-high 38 points. He made 15 of his 19 shots from the field, including five of seven from behind the 3-point arc.
The Warriors shot 53.5 percent from the field and 55.6 percent on 3-pointers.
Thompson had all five of his 3's and 27 of his points in the first half, which ended with Golden State thoroughly in command at 59-40. He did not play in the fourth quarter after having added 11 to his total in the third.
David Lee backed Thompson with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Stephen Curry contributed 10 points and six assists for the Warriors, who travel to L.A. to face the Clippers on Thursday night.
Jodie Meeks, starting in Nash's spot, had 14 points for the Lakers, who trailed by 34 points in the final seconds of the third quarter.
Lakers reserves (52) outscored the starters (42) for the second consecutive night. Xavier Henry (14), Jordan Farmar (12), Chris Kaman (11) and Wesley Johnson (11) had double-figure scoring nights off the bench for L.A.
NOTES: The Warriors have opened against the Lakers just five times since moving to the Western Conference in 1962. ... Despite finishing below the Warriors in the final regular-season standings last year, the Lakers won the season series 3-1. ... Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni disclosed before the game he's not married to sitting Nash in every back-to-back sequence. "We could re-evaluate that after a couple of games," he noted. "We'll see how it goes. He wants to play." ... Of the Warriors' up-tempo style, D'Antoni observed, "A lot of teams are playing this way. They're the best at it." ... Bryant attended the game. Asked if he was happy to see the Lakers without Bryant, Warriors coach Mark Jackson said before the game, "I don't look forward to facing him. As a fan of the game, I hope he comes back." ... Jackson clearly remembers the play on which Bryant blew out his Achilles tendon against the Warriors late last season. "I never said this, but I have one regret being a head coach in this league," Jackson admitted. "If I would've known that Kobe Bryant was hurt, I would've called a timeout. They would not have had to commit a foul. That's how much respect I have for him."
