ANAHEIM –- The Warriors, missing for most of the preseason, returned Thursday night and ran the Lakers off the floor in a 136-97 thrashing at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Three Warriors scored in double figures, as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson each finished with 24 points, while Harrison Barnes added 23.
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Interim coach Luke Walton said he would treat the preseason finale as he would a regular-season game. He managed the rotations as if something were at stake and Golden State surely played with regular-season intensity.
The Warriors owned the glass, outrebounding the Lakers 57-34, and defended as if it mattered, particularly in the first half, when they took control of the game by holding Los Angeles to 38.6 percent shooting from the floor.
But mostly, the Warriors crushed the Lakers under a unrelenting barrage of torrid shooting. The Warriors shot 60.5 percent in the first half, 54.7 percent for the game and 51.6 in making 16-of-31 from behind the three-point stripe.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Golden State Warriors
It’s a three-way tie, as Curry, Thompson and Barnes spent the entire evening at or near the top of their respective games.
They shot a combined 27-of-38 from the floor, including 13-of-20 from deep.
Curry added 10 assists and four steals. Barnes had five rebounds, four assists, and sported an absurd plus/minus of +38.
TURNING POINT
Holding a 10-point lead after one quarter, the Warriors opened the second with a 22-7 run to go up 61-36 with 6:00 left in the half.
The Lakers never got closer than 22 the rest of the game.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: F Kevon Looney (hip surgery) was listed as out. C Andrew Bogut (broken nose), G/F Jarell Eddie (right ankle sprain), G/F Xavier Henry and F Chris Udofia are not with the team.
Lakers: G Kobe Bryant (left leg contusion) was listed as doubtful and did not play. G Jordan Clarkson left the game in the second quarter with sprained right shoulder and did not return. G Lou Williams (sore groin), listed as probable, entered the game in the first quarter. F Johnathan Holmes (dislocated shoulder) was listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Warriors are idle until next Tuesday, when they open the regular season against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle.