Warriors rip Pacers; Westbrook hot.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Klay Thompson exploded for a career-high 60 points in a phenomenal individual display as Golden State steamrolled the Indiana Pacers 142-106 on Monday.
Thompson tormented Indiana with a mesmerizing performance which saw him rack up 40 points in the first two quarters alone.
A further 20 points in the third quarter gave Thompson the highest individual game tally of his career and the highest of any player in the NBA this season as the Warriors improved to 18-3.
Thompson sat out the entire fourth quarter so was denied the opportunity to improve his tally, which included eight three-pointers.
“It was fun, I was in a great rhythm, took all good shots for the most part. Still missed a few wide open threes I wish I’d got, but it was a fun night, to say the least,’’ Thompson said on court afterwards.
Thompson declined to speculate on what his point tally might have been had Steve Kerr not elected to sit him in the fourth quarter.
“Good question,’’ a smiling Thompson said. “Who knows?’’
Thompson’s virtuoso display was the highlight of another busy round of NBA games which saw Russell Westbrook maintain his extraordinary run of form with a sixth straight triple double.
Westbrook moved to within one game of equaling Michael Jordan’s seven consecutive triples in 1989 when he secured his 10th assist midway through the third quarter of Oklahoma City’s 102-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Westbrook eventually finished with 32 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists as the Thunder improved to 14-8.
The 28-year-old is now three away from matching the legendary Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record of nine consecutive triple-doubles set in 1968.
In Toronto LeBron James scored 34 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped their three-game losing streak with a hard-fought 116-112 win over the Raptors, a repeat of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals showdown.
James led the scoring for the Cavs, who also saw Kevin Love pour on 28 points with 14 rebounds.