Warriors cruise past Hawks 114-95 for best record in NBA

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Harrison Barnes had 25 points, Andre Iguodala added 21 points and six assists, and the Golden State Warriors cruised past the Atlanta Hawks 114-95 on Wednesday night in a matchup of the NBA's top two teams.

Stephen Curry had 16 points and 12 assists, Draymond Green contributed 18 points and Andrew Bogut grabbed 14 rebounds as balanced Golden State maintained the best record in the league (54-13) with its 10th straight win at home.

The Hawks, looking fatigued and trailing big by the fourth quarter, were denied again in a chance to clinch their first division title since the 1993-94 season as Washington won at Utah.

Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll each scored 16 points and Carroll had 12 boards for cold-shooting Atlanta (53-15), which had won 10 of 12 and three in a row but shot 35.6 percent from the floor.

The Warriors certainly look ready for a long postseason run, showing off snazzy passing and unselfish play while winning their third straight and 10th in 12 games, in front of a rocking sellout crowd of 19,596 at Oracle Arena.

Two days after Golden State clinched a playoff berth for the third consecutive season, the Warriors scored 44 baskets on 39 assists. It was the 25th time this season Golden State had 30 or more assists.

Both teams played short-handed. The Warriors were without All-Star guard Klay Thompson, who sprained his right ankle Monday against the Lakers and will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days.

Justin Holiday started in Thompson's place, something Kerr said Holiday earned after a career-best, 23-point performance at Denver last Friday night.

Hawks star Kyle Korver is likely out at least another game after breaking his nose in a win against the Lakers on Sunday. Ex-Warrior Kent Bazemore moved into Atlanta's starting lineup.

The Hawks beat the Warriors 124-116 at home on Feb. 6, knocking down 15 3-pointers and forcing key turnovers late. Atlanta was held to eight 3s on Wednesday.

Golden State had five turnovers - four in five possessions - by the 7:57 mark of the first quarter, including three steals by Jeff Teague as the Hawks turned those mistakes into seven early points despite starting 6 for 17.

But the Warriors warmed up in a hurry.

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TIP-INS

Hawks: Atlanta was outshot 58.5 percent to 34.1 percent in the first half and trailed 59-47 at halftime. ... The Hawks lost their third straight in Oakland. ... There's no timetable for the return of Thabo Sefolosha (calf), and coach Mike Budenholzer said F Mike Scott (broken toe) is still in the evaluation stage. ... Al Horford, who rested the previous game, missed his first six field goal tries before scoring with 9:12 remaining in the second quarter. He was 1 for 11 in the first half. ... Budenholzer acknowledged he interviewed for the Warriors' head coaching job when Mark Jackson took over in June 2011.

Warriors: Golden State has five losses vs. the Eastern Conference. ... Thompson missed just the fourth game of his four-year career. He has jogged but hopes to try sprinting in a few days. This was a game he wanted to play. ''It'll be difficult, but I'm looking at the big picture,'' Thompson said before the game. ... The Warriors are 31-2 at home, matching their second-most wins ever. The club record of 36 was set in 1975-76. ... Kerr called late teammate Jack Haley, who died Monday at age 51, ''one of the most colorful characters I've ever been around.''

UP NEXT

Hawks: At Oklahoma City on Friday.

Warriors: Host New Orleans on Friday