PORTLAND • Even in the midst of a sprint through the park, it is good to stop and smell the roses.

"We couldn't ask for a better start almost midway through the regular season," guard Klay Thompson said, after scoring 36 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 128-108 National Basketball Association (NBA) victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

It improved the Warriors' record to an almost inconceivable 34-2.

"It's crazy how fast the season is going. Winning helps that," he said.

"We're still hungry. There's a long way to go before we get to where we want to. But we also have to enjoy this. We have a special group. We all sacrifice to win. It is really fun."

Guard Stephen Curry helped out with 26 points to go with nine assists despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter as the Warriors won their fifth straight game.

Forward Draymond Green had an NBA-best eighth triple-double of the season with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

Guard Damian Lillard tallied a season-high 40 points and handed out 10 assists for the Trail Blazers (15-24), who have lost three games in a row and nine of the last 13.

The Warriors fired at 52.9 per cent from the field and sank 18 of 32 attempts (56.3 per cent) from three-point range.

Thompson was 13-for-22 from the field, making seven of 10 tries from beyond the arc. He came out smoking with 19 first-quarter points, hitting on seven of nine shots from the field, including five of five on three-point tries.

"I was in a great rhythm," he said.

"I was taking pretty good shots. Just happened to be one of those quarters. It just kind of happens - no real good explanation for it."

Golden State jumped to a 12-2 lead as Portland missed their first nine shots from the field, and soon the visitors extended the difference to 30-11. Thompson had 24 points and Curry 13 to stake the Warriors to a 74-52 lead at the half.

Curry scored 13 points in the third quarter and the Warriors took a 106-87 lead into the final period. The Blazers never got closer than 18 points the rest of the way.

"We were able to start the game off on the right foot," Curry said.

"That's the key when you come into this arena, especially against a talented offensive team like they are."

No NBA team have started a season 34-2. The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls finished the regular season with the best mark in history - 72-10.

The Warriors "are on pace to have the best record ever," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "They're dominating the league right now. I don't see any signs of (them) letting up.

"They know how to play, they know their formula for success and they execute it very well."

REUTERS