Curry, Thompson making a huge splash after World Cup

OAKLAND (NBA) - An undeniable momentum that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson created while playing for the USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup has helped Steve Kerr enjoy an excellent start to life as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

At this past summer's tournament in Spain, Curry started every game while Thompson came off the bench and more times than not ignited the Americans on important runs with his play at both ends of the court.

The two were key men in a USA side that rolled to victory after victory, en route to the title.

When they returned home to get ready for the NBA season, Curry and Thompson weren't warming up the engine or even shifting gears. 

They were already in overdrive.

"They were definitely ahead of everyone in (Golden State) training camp," Kerr said. 

"You could just see it. 

"They were in a groove from the first exhibition game, and they've played great throughout the first few weeks of the season."

By the end of the pre-season, it was clear that Thompson was going to have a fast start to the campaign. 

He lit up the Denver Nuggets for 35 points.

Golden State already had Curry locked into a long-term deal but they also decided to splash out big bucks on Thompson to keep him with the team for the foreseeable future.

He started the season with a bang and hasn't stopped. 

The dynamic duo has turned the Warriors backcourt into one of, if not the most potent guard combination in the league.

Once the "Splash Brothers" led Golden State to a 102-86 road win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, the team had entered the club's history books.

Following road wins against the Chicago Bulls and the one over the T-Wolves, the Warriors returned home and beat one of the top teams in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets, 105-93, on Wednesday night..

With 19 victories in 21 games this season, Kerr has enjoyed the best-ever start for a rookie NBA head coach.

Curry had already cemented his status as an elite player before traveling to Spain but at the World Cup, Thompson's star really took off.

He ranked second on the USA team in scoring at 12.7 points per game, and fifth in assists at 2.1.

Curry currently ranks sixth in the NBA in scoring (23.0 points per game) and is tied fifth with LeBron James in assists (7.7). 

Thompson, meanwhile is 12th in the league in scoring (21.2) but what genuinely stands out is his marksmanship. He had drilled 45.1 percent of his attempts from the arc, making 55 of 122. 

Curry, Kyle Korver (Atlanta Hawks) and Wesley Matthews (Portland Trail Blazers) were joint leaders with 59 three-balls made, although Thompson was just four behind.

Curry is such a prolific shooter that he starts making three-pointers before he even steps onto the court.

James took his game to new heights after firing the United States to the Olympic gold in 2008 and Derrick Rose was the MVP of the NBA after having a starring role in the USA's FIBA Basketball World Cup triumph in Turkey four years ago.

FIBA