OAKLAND (California) • According to Klay Thompson, when the Golden State Warriors get going, they are the most exciting team in basketball. And hard to beat, too.
Thompson and backcourt mate Stephen Curry ignited a high-powered second half with 18 third-quarter points, allowing the Warriors to break open a close National Basketball Association game en route to a 114-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
In recording their sixth consecutive win over the Clippers, the Warriors (64-7) completed their first 4-0 season-series sweep of Los Angeles since the 1985-86 season while going 57 games over .500 for the first time in franchise history.
"It's tough to sweep the same team four times, especially against one of the better teams in the league. So we're proud of it," said Thompson, who averaged 26.3 points in those wins, including a 32-point explosion on Wednesday.
Thompson (seven) and Curry (four) combined for 11 three-pointers as the Warriors moved within eight wins of the Chicago Bulls' NBA single-season record for victories with 11 games to go.
Curry, hitting 12 of 23 from the field, finished with a game-high 33 points, helping Golden State win their 51st straight at home, 33 of which have come this season. Thompson shot 12-of-21, including 7-of-10 on three-pointers.
The victory allowed the Warriors to remain four games up on the San Antonio Spurs (60-11) in the battle for top seeding in the Western Conference play-offs.
In Cleveland, Ohio, Kevin Love returned to the line-up and finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-104.
Superstar LeBron James, who said earlier that he would take less money to play on a team with his friends Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul before his basketball career ends, had 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have won four of their last five games.
"I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together," James said. "Maybe one or two seasons - me, Melo, D-Wade, CP. I would actually take a pay cut to do that."
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
