Thompson, Durant lead injured Warriors to 10th straight win
Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol (33) drives the ball against Golden State Warriors’ Patrick McCaw, Klay Thompson, David West and Omri Casspi, from left. AP
OAKLAND, California — Klay Thompson scored 27 of his 29 points in the first half and made his first nine field goals, leading the undermanned Golden State Warriors past the Memphis Grizzlies 97-84 on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) for their 10th straight win.
Kevin Durant added 22 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots as defending champion Golden State was down five regulars again, including two-time MVP Stephen Curry out for his sixth straight game with a sprained right ankle.
Thompson shot 10 for 16 overall and didn’t miss until a 3-point try with 6:10 left before halftime.
Curry tweeted in the midst of Thompson’s hot start: “Somebody is having a great game!”
Thompson received a rare technical — his seventh in seven seasons — with 10:22 left in the game for arguing when he thought he was fouled.
Marc Gasol had 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Memphis, which started a stretch with seven of eight games on the road. The Grizzlies were 10 of 44 in the second half, shot 12 for 31 from 3-point range and committed 17 turnovers.
Omri Casspi came off the bench to contribute 12 points and six rebounds. While coach Steve Kerr would far prefer a healthy roster, he appreciates the opportunities many of his role players are receiving to play more significant an important minutes.
“I like it,” said Kerr, who certainly wasn’t going to be pleased with the 16 turnovers.
The Warriors began a seven-game homestand in a stretch with nine of 10 games at home before next playing away from Oracle Arena on Jan. 3 at Dallas.
Curry did some light on-court work at morning shootaround a day after the Warriors said the two-time MVP would be out at least another week with the ankle injury. Kerr said it was Curry’s first time moving laterally, and he wouldn’t scrimmage or practice before being examined again.
“He had a good day today. He was working out with Steve Nash and Q (Bruce Fraser) and got a lot of good stuff and it looked like he was moving pretty well,” Kerr said. “A good sign.”
Golden State has won all six games since Curry injured the ankle on Dec. 4 at New Orleans.
Curry will miss two more games this week, as well as the Christmas Day showdown against Cleveland before getting evaluated again.
