What the Warriors will try to maintain into the playoffs

On Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors (51-29) won their third straight game after dropping four consecutive ones, defeating the 31-49 Los Angeles Lakers in the final minutes of the matchup.

Klay Thompson scored 33 points on 12-of-22 shooting with six 3-pointers, having his best game since returning in January following surgeries. The Warriors will look to retain Thompson’s performance going into the next few games of the regular season.

“I thought it was Klay’s best game,” said Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr. “I know he’s scored more but just in terms of the shot selection, he just had his feet on the ground underneath him, his balance was great, his decision-making was really good. So a lot of good things are happening.”

Klay also scored 36 points, including 8-of-17 from deep on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings.

The second thing the Warriors will look to retain is their productive ball movement. Golden State has recorded a season-high-tying 39 assists, which marks the first time they’ve surpassed their 36 in February against the Portland Trail Blazers.

That added up to 98 over the last three games, a 32.6 average.

“That’s Warriors basketball,” said Klay Thompson, “We’ve got to build off it.”

Jordan Poole, who also added 19 points and a career-high 11 assists, continues to lift the Warriors when missing stars like Thompson or, currently like Stephen Curry, are not around.

“Jordan’s been amazing. He’s had a fantastic season,” Kerr said. “He’s filled in for both Klay and Steph when they’ve been injured. He’s done anything we’ve asked him to do.”

Andrew Wiggins added 17 points before celebrating a 128-112 win over the Lakers at Chase Center.

Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker scored a career-high 40 points on 15-for-28 shooting as Los Angeles lost its eighth consecutive game. Malik Monk contributed 24 points to a Los Angeles team that’s struggling without LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook.

Warriors vs Spurs

The Warriors final road trip of the regular season takes place at AT&T Center on Saturday night vs the San Antonio Spurs. Of the last three times both teams have met, the Spurs defeated the Warriors in two matchups.

The Warriors will do their best to keep themselves productive this weekend. “We’re going to try to win all three games. We’re just going into this thinking, let’s build momentum. If we could capitalize on these last two wins and go into next week on a winning streak, I think that would serve us really well,” Kerr said. “But whatever happens with the seeding happens, and we’ll just play whoever we will play.”