The Golden State Warriors vented their frustration over a controversial loss in their previous game on the playoff-hopeful Charlotte Hornets, using a 71-point first half to pave the way to a 137-90 blowout in Oakland, Calif.
Stephen Curry (25 points) and Klay Thompson (24) combined for 11 3-pointers, helping the Warriors win a game in which DeMarcus Cousins was ejected in the second quarter for a flagrant foul.
The win, coupled with Denver’s surprising home loss to Washington, pushed the Warriors (52-24) one game ahead of the Nuggets (51-25) atop the Western Conference on the eve of their showdown Tuesday night at Golden State.
The Warriors improved to 18-6 this season in the first game following a loss, which on this occasion was a 131-130 overtime affair Friday night at Minnesota.
The match featured two questionable calls against Golden State in the final five seconds of the extra session.
Troy Brown Jr. scored 24 points, Thomas Bryant had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Washington dealt Denver a home loss.
The Nuggets had won eight of 10 and fell one game behind Golden State for the best record in the Western Conference.
Jabari Parker also had 20 points for Washington, which had lost six of seven. Bradley Beal added 17.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic had 23 points and 14 rebounds before being ejected after receiving two quick technical fouls for arguing a non-foul call with 3:46 remaining. Paul Millsap had 13 points and 16 rebounds.
Final scores Wizards 95, Nuggets 90.
Danilo Gallinari scored 27 points with 15 rebounds and Montrezl Harrell added 20 points as Los Angeles moved into a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference with a victory over visiting Memphis.
Lou Williams scored 17 points and JaMychal Green added 15 as the Clippers (47-31) drew even with the Utah Jazz, six games behind the first-place Golden State Warriors, but just two games behind the fourth-place Portland Trail Blazers.
Delon Wright scored 20 points and Chandler Parsons added 17 as the Grizzlies lost for the fourth time in their last six games and for the sixth time in their last nine games.
Memphis has already been eliminated from playoff consideration.
Final scores Clippers 113, Grizzlies 96.
Buddy Hield scored 26 points to lead seven players in double figures as visiting Sacramento clipped San Antonio, completing a three-game sweep of the season series.
The Spurs are already guaranteed a spot in the postseason for the 22nd straight season, tying an NBA record.
The Kings trailed 106-105 after San Antonio’s DeMar DeRozan hit a jumper with 2:53 to play.
Sacramento responded with the final eight points of the game, capped by two free throws by Hield with 16.7 seconds left, to snap a two-game losing streak.
Willie Cauley-Stein added 17 points for the Kings, with Bogdan Bogdanovic and Harrison Barnes scoring 15 each, De’Aaron Fox hitting for 12 points, and Nemanja Bjelica and Yogi Ferrell pumping in 10 points apiece.
Kosta Koufos led the Kings with 11 rebounds.
Final scores Kings 113, Spurs 106.
