Warriors busy early, beat Pacers to go 23-0

Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) tries to tie up Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. The Warrior defeated the Pacers 131-123. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS — Golden State piled on 44 points in the first quarter en route to a 131-123 win at Indiana on Tuesday, extending their perfect start to the NBA season to 23-0.

The Warriors have won 27 straight dating back to last season, moving them level with the 2012-13 Miami Heat for the second-longest winning streak in league history.

The other division leaders in action Tuesday both recorded victories: Oklahoma City won convincingly at Memphis and Cleveland came from 18 points down to overrun Portland.

Golden State’s Klay Thompson scored a season-high 39 points — including 29 in the first half — and Stephen Curry had 29 points and 10 assists for the Warriors, who led by 28 points early in the fourth quarter before easing up.

Indiana was led by Paul George with 33 points. The 44 points conceded in the first quarter was the worst by the Pacers in the NBA era.

Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant had 32 points and 10 rebounds to steer the Thunder to a 125-88 win at Memphis.

Russell Westbrook added 13 points while matching his season high with 16 assists for the Thunder, who led by 35 points after three quarters, allowing Durant and Westbrook to sit out the fourth.

Mario Chalmers scored 19 points to lead the Grizzlies, who gave up their biggest score of the season.

Cleveland’s LeBron James had 33 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers back from the big first-half deficit and to a 105-100 win against Portland.

Kevin Love added 18 points for the Cavaliers, who benefited from a second-half lineup adjustment by coach David Blatt and ended a three-game losing skid.

James, who didn’t play Saturday in Miami to rest, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play that helped seal the result. He shot 14 for 24 from the field.

Damian Lillard scored 33 points for Portland, which also blew a late lead Monday in Milwaukee.

Orlando ended a run of five successive losses to Denver by taking an 85-74 road win, with Nikola Vucevic contributing 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Sacramento established a 12-point lead after one quarter and led throughout in a 114-106 win against Utah, with both DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay scoring 23 points.

Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez scored 24 points to lead the Nets past Houston 110-105.