LOS ANGELES (AP) Golden State’s Klay Thompson scored 22 of his 36 points in the first quarter to lay the foundation for a 109-88 over the lowly Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, exposing the gulf between the top and bottom teams in the Pacific Division.
Elsewhere, New York held on in a nervous finish against fast-finishing Atlanta.
Golden State was able to rest reigning MVP Stephen Curry after he took another knock to his battered left leg during the third quarter. He sat out the fourth quarter, finishing on 17 points.
Lakers star Kobe Bryant sat out his third straight game with a sore right shoulder for the Lakers, whose had won their previous three games, having only won five for the season before that.
New York almost gave up a 16-point lead but hung on to win 107-101 at Atlanta.
The Knicks led by 16 in the third quarter but saw the lead reduced to two points in the final minute before Jose Calderon scored on a drive with 18 seconds remaining.
Arron Afflalo and Carmelo Anthony both scored 23 points for the Knicks.
Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 19 points.
Chicago notched a season-best fifth straight win by downing Milwaukee 117-105, led by 32 points and a season-high 10 assists from Jimmy Butler.
Dallas’ Deron Williams hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the second overtime, and the Mavericks beat Sacramento 117-116 for their 22nd consecutive home victory over the Kings.
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