ANAHEIM, California – Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson each scored 24 points and Harrison Barnes had 23 as the Golden State Warriors routed the Los Angeles Lakers, 136-97, on Thursday night in the last preseason game for both teams.
Curry, last season’s MVP, made nine of 14 shots, was 4 for 8 from three-point range and added 10 assists as the Warriors outscored the Lakers by 38 points while Barnes was on the floor.
Curry, Thompson and Barnes all sat out the fourth quarter.
Lakers’ Lou Williams scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half after missing two games because of a sore groin while Fil-Am guard Jordan Clarkson left the game with 5:25 left in the first because of a sprained right shoulder.
Lakers coach Byron Scott is confident that Kobe Bryant will be ready for the season opener after missing his third straight because of a bruised left leg.
‘’There’s no doubt in my mind,’’ Scott said.
Meanwhile, the Warriors begin defense of their NBA title on Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans while the Lakers start the season Wednesday at Staples Center against Minnesota.
In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin scored 22 points and Paul Pierce had 19 as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 115-109, in the pre-season finale for both teams Thursday night.
Pierce scored 14 in the fourth quarter and the Clippers came back from 28 points down in the first quarter and an 18-point halftime deficit. J.J Redick’s three-pointer tied it at 102. Wesley Johnson followed with a triple to give the Clippers the lead for good.
Blazers’ Damien Lillard started hot with 14 points, six assists and four rebounds in the first nine minutes. He finished with 39 points while CJ McCollum scored 22 markers.
Redick and Austin Rivers scored 16 points apiece for the Clippers, who also drew nine markers from Lance Stephenson in his second straight start.