Green's triple-double leads Warriors past Hornets 111-101

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) For five straight trips down the court, Draymond Green knew he needed just one more assist for a triple-double.

When he got the ball to Stephen Curry behind the 3-point line, Green made history.

Green became the second Warriors player ever to post three straight triple-doubles and Golden State rolled to its 35th straight regular-season home win, 111-101 over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

''Oh man, it was hard to come by,'' Green said. ''When you start looking for it, it's impossible to get.''

But Green managed to do it again.

He had 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to join Tom Gola in 1959-60 as the only Warriors players ever to get triple-doubles in three straight games. The last player in the NBA to do it was Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, who had a four-game streak last season.

''He's playing at a very, very high level,'' Curry said. ''His consistency is just off the charts. ... It's amazing how he can impact the game.''

Curry and Klay Thompson scored 30 points apiece and Marreese Speights had a season-high 15 off the bench to help the Warriors sweep the season series from Charlotte.

Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb each scored 22 points for the Hornets. Charlotte has lost a season-high four straight games.

''We did do some good things but we did a lot of things that we shouldn't have done as well,'' Walker said. ''We are short-handed but we've got guys that are capable of playing big games as well. We do have to get better. We're in a tough stretch. We just have to be better.''

The Hornets cut a 12-point lead down to one following back-to-back 3-pointers from P.J. Hairston and Jeremy Lin early in the third quarter. But Thompson answered with a layup and a 3-pointer to restore the lead to 71-65 and start a 12-0 run that put Golden State in control.

A jumper by Harrison Barnes early in the fourth expanded the lead to 20 points and the Warriors cruised from there.

TIP-INS

Hornets: Lamb left the game briefly to undergo X-rays on his bruised right hand and wrist. ... Swingman Nicolas Batum sat out with a sprained toe on his right foot. He could also miss Wednesday's game in Phoenix. ... Big man Spencer Hawes returned after missing five games with a back injury.

Warriors: Green is the 15th player in NBA history to have three straight triple-doubles. He has seven overall this season. ... Barnes returned from a 16-game absence from a sprained left ankle. He got a standing ovation when he checked in for the first time since getting hurt Nov. 27 at Phoenix. Barnes scored eight points. ... G Leandro Barbosa (left shoulder sprain) and F James Michael McAdoo (sprained toe, left foot) remain sidelined.

SURPRISE STARTER

Interim coach Luke Walton prepared for the game assuming Curry would sit after leaving Saturday's game with a bruised left shin. Curry then tested himself in warmups and was cleared to play. He had no issues at all and posted his 14th 30-point game of the season.

''I didn't even think Steph was going to play tonight to be honest,'' Walton said. ''He said he felt good out there and they cleared him. If Steph Curry is going to play, I'm never surprised he's going to score 30 points.''

MO BUCKETS

After struggling most of the season, Speights has found his stride of late. He had eight points and drew a key charge in a win Saturday against Denver before shooting 7 for 10 and providing an offensive boost against the Hornets.

''Mo was great for us,'' Walton said. ''That's what we know Mo can do. ... He looked like he had a nice confidence about him today.''

UP NEXT

Hornets: Visit Phoenix on Wednesday.

Warriors: Visit Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.