sport news Warriors record easy win over Kevin Durantless Suns as Klay Thompson records 38, trends now
Klay Thompson scored 33 of his 38 points in the first half, Stephen Curry added 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns 123-112 on Monday night.
Jordan Poole had 20 points and six assists off the bench for the defending champions. Kevon Looney helped the Warriors win their eighth straight home game and 12th of 13 with nine points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Golden State is 29-7 at home but 7-26 on the road.
Devin Booker scored 32 points and Deandre Ayton had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns, who roared back after halftime to make it interesting.
Josh Okogie's 3 with 4:59 left in the third pulled Phoenix within 85-81 and his putback a minute later made it 87-84 before Curry and Co. came on again.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the ball next to Suns Chris Paul (3)
Things got heated in the closing minutes when JaMychal Green and ex-Warriors guard Damion Lee received a double technical with 1:12 left.
Kevin Durant again missed facing his former team with fans present in San Francisco, sitting out a third straight game for the Suns because of a sprained left ankle. Golden State's Chase Center crowd has still not been able to acknowledge the star who led the Warriors to a pair of titles and captured NBA Finals MVP honors in 2017 and '18.
Durant played for Brooklyn at Chase Center in February 2021 during the pandemic period when no spectators were allowed.
'It's nuts. It's insane,' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Durant not yet being greeted by the San Francisco crowd.
Chris Paul contributed 11 points and 11 assists for Phoenix, coming off a 128-119 loss to division-leading Sacramento at home Saturday that snapped a four-game winning streak.
The Suns won the previous four meetings with Golden State, including three straight in the season series, missing a chance to sweep all four matchups for the first time since 2010-11.
Warriors Klay Thompson (11) celebrates next to guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) after scoring
ROCKETS 111, CELTICS 109
Jalen Green scored 28 points and rookie Jabari Smith Jr. added 24 as Houston held off Boston.
The Rockets, who are tied with Detroit for the NBA´s fewest wins with 16, snapped a three-game skid despite allowing the Celtics´ Jaylen Brown to score a season-high 43 points.
Jayson Tatum scored 22 points but missed a potential tying layup at the buzzer for the Celtics.
Kenyon Martin Jr. had 20 points and eight rebounds for Houston.
Houston Rockets' Jalen Green, right, goes up for a shot as Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0)
GRIZZLES 104, MAVERICKS 88
Desmond Bane scored 23 points and the Memphis Grizzlies won a second
