by Jessica Kwong

AP photo: The Golden State Warriors Draymond Green right reaches over the LA Clippers DeAndre Jordan center for the ball the Warriors Klay Thompson is on the left at Saturday’s game at Staples Center

LOS ANGELES – After being blown out in Portland the previous night, the Golden State Warriors’ 115-112 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday was “more like us,” head coach Steve Kerr said.

 Golden State, without big men Andrew Bogut due to a sore right Achilles and Festus Ezeli due to knee surgery, avoided their first back-to-back loss since last April. They are now 3-0 in the series against the Clippers, who’ve been on fire despite the absence of Blake Griffin, inactive since breaking his hand while punching a team staff member.

 “These guys are very competitive. We haven’t lost two in a row all year, which we’re very proud of,” Kerr said. “I thought tonight was a good response to a great challenge because the Clippers have been playing really well. They’re a great team and on the road after a long flight, it was a hell of a win.”

 The Warriors’ mostly double-digit lead throughout the nationally televised game at Staples Center was put in jeopardy in the remaining seconds of the game, after Los Angeles’ Wesley Johnson stole the ball and Pablo Prigioni hit a three-pointer with five seconds remaining to narrow Golden State’s lead to 115-112.

 Golden State called a timeout, brought back Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala, and after the Clippers’ CJ Wilcox missed a three point shot, the game was history.

 “Up until the last minute, we played well,” Thompson said. “I am just proud of the way that we were solid with the ball. When we don’t turn it over, we are tough to beat.”

 The Warriors had 11 turnovers on Saturday, a major improvement from 20 against Portland on Friday.

 The Warriors wasted no time going for the win in Los Angeles, taking a quick lead over the Clippers at the start of the game that extended to 33-20 by the end of the first quarter, with Klay Thompson contributing 16 points.

 Golden State held strong in the second quarter too. With about 7 minutes remaining, the Clippers’ Jamal Crawford hit a three pointer, was fouled, and scored at the free throw line to cut Los Angeles’ deficit to 42-33, but the Warriors quickly brought their lead back to double digits and ended the half up 10.

 The Clippers came out more aggressive in the third quarter and came within 5 points of the defending champions, but Golden State closed the quarter up 93-84.

 Thompson scored a game-high 32 points while Green, who played center, got his 11th triple-double of the season in a tough matchup with DeAndre Jordan.

 “I wanted to battle him. He is all over the offensive boards, clogging up the paint and protecting the rim but I was just trying to put him in uncomfortable situations,” Green said. “When he is at the rim, I was trying to make CP (Chris Paul) finish, instead of giving up the lob and also when he is there fighting for the rebounds, I just stayed into his legs. It is hard to jump if a guy is into your legs.”

 Plenty of Warriors fans showed up in blue and gold at Staples Center, cheering often as loudly as Clipper fans and shouting “MVP” for Curry.

“It feels good to have fans everywhere we go,” Kerr said pregame.

 The Warriors, who shot 52.5 percent from the floor and had 32 assists on 42 field goals, are now 49-5. Setting an NBA record isn’t something the team walks off the court thinking about, Curry said.

 “If we can win one game at a time, it may happen,” he said. “It’s just finding ways to win that next matchup, the next challenge.”

 The Warriors face the Hawks in Atlanta 5 p.m. on Monday.