By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

OAKLAND, Calif — In a game between the only undefeated teams in the Western Conference, Stephen Curry scored 31 points to lead keep the Golden State Warriors past their bitter rival, the Los Angeles Clippers 112-108 in front of a sellout crowd at Oracle Arena Wednesday night for their fifth straight win to begin the season.

“We’re better than we were last year,” said Curry after the game to ESPN’s J.A. Adande. Curry nailed 7-for-11 three-pointers, including the go-ahead three with a minute left to go.

Curry’s 25 made threes are the most made by a player in his first five games to start a season in NBA history. His 179 points are the most through five games since Michael Jordan’s 182 points during the 1991-92 season.

Golden State (5-0) overcame a 10-point lead with just a little over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to Harrison Barnes who went on a 8-1 run in 38 seconds highlighted by his back-to-back threes. Barnes finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in a game that had a playoff-type atmosphere to it.

Klay Thompson scored 16 points and Festus Ezeli, starting for injured center Andrew Bogut, finished with 10 points. Ezeli’s block on Blake Griffin’s dunk attempt in the first quarter sent shock waves through Oracle Arena.

Draymond Green chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds.

Chris Paul led the Clippers with 24 points and nine assists on 9-for-15 shooting, but four points came just after halftime. Paul also missed two crucial free throws late in the fourth quarter.

Blake Griffin finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, but went scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles (4-1), came into the game winners of four straight, just like the Warriors but dropped their eighth straight game in Oakland and find themselves looking up at Golden State in the Pacific Division.

Let’s face it, these teams don’t like each other. Golden State feels the Clippers don’t respect them or the NBA Championship the Warriors won last year; while Los Angeles believes that Golden State are arrogant and were “lucky” to even win the franchise’s first title in 40 years.

With the win, Golden State becomes the first defending NBA Champion since the 2010-11 to start the next season 5-0.

Golden State will try to add to its 21 straight home victories Friday night when they will host the Denver Nuggets.

Both teams will meet each other three more times, with the next installment coming up Nov. 19 when Golden State heads to Los Angeles.