INDIANAPOLIS — Guard Klay Thompson scored 29 of his season-high 39 during a 79-point first half, and Golden State improved to 23-0 Tuesday night with a 131-123 victory against the Indiana Pacers.
Thompson made 8 of 10 shots from 3-point range during the first 24 minutes, when the reigning NBA champion Warriors led by as many as 22 points. Through three periods, Thompson and guard Stephen Curry had 62 combined points, Curry finished with 29.
At that point, the Warriors had made 44 of 71 field goal attempts (62 percent).
Last season, Thompson scored 40 and 39 in two games against the Pacers (12-8), who have lost three in a row, giving up 122 points or more in each of the three defeats.
Paul George led Indiana with 33 points, and C.J. Miles added 24.
A Thompson baseline jumper with 3:49 left in the third quarter gave Golden State a 100-74 lead.
The Warriors literally staged an opening-half offensive clinic, making 30 of 48 field goal attempts (62.5 percent) and scoring a season-high 79 points.
Thompson and Curry combined for 45 first-half points, making 15 of 25 shots, including 11 of 20 from 3-point range.
Trailing 21-15 with 6:35 remaining in the first quarter, Golden State scored 22 consecutive points, including two Thompson 3-pointers and one from Curry. With 1:36 left in the period, the Warriors led 37-21.
George had 18 first-half points for Indiana, which shot 42 percent during the opening two quarters (21 of 50).
Golden State out rebounded Indiana 23-20, getting six from center Andrew Bogut.
NOTES: The Warriors were without F Harrison Barnes (13.4 points) because of a sprained left ankle. … Indiana was without F/C Myles Turner (fractured left thumb). … Tuesday’s game was Golden State’s 13th on the road to go along with only 10 at home. … Of Indiana’s first 19 games, 11 were on the road. … Before losing back-to-back road games at Portland and Utah, Indiana won six in a row and 9 of 10 prior to Tuesday. … Golden State entered leading the NBA in scoring (115.1), field goal percentage (49.3), 3-point field goal percentage (43.7), opponents’ 3-point field goal percentage (30.5) and assists per game (28.9). … Indiana is second in 3-point field goal percentage (40.1) and second in opponents’ turnovers per game (17.3). … The Warriors and Pacers split last season’s two meetings, each winning at home. … Pacers’ G Monta Ellis played for Golden State from 2005-2012, averaging 19.6 points in 413 games, including 334 starts.