Warriors’ Jackson has first career triple-double

$PHOTOCREDIT_ON$Associated Press$PHOTOCREDIT_OFF$

OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Jackson had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, and the Golden State Warriors never trailed in a 124-112 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

Jamal Crawford scored 27 points, and Kelenna Azubuike had 19 of his 25 in the first quarter for the Warriors, who started the game on a 17-2 run and never let the Suns get close. Jackson, who clearly knew his stats in the final minutes, finished off his triple-double with an assist on Ronny Turiaf’s open jumper with 3:47 to play.

Jason Richardson scored 24 points for Phoenix in the longtime Warriors guard’s second homecoming game in Oakland, but the Suns played atrocious defense in their sixth loss in nine games, and their fourth straight at Golden State.

Two nights after blowing a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter of an overtime loss to San Antonio, the Warriors showed they’re learning from those mistakes while matching their season high with 13 3-pointers. Jackson and Maggette hit big shots to keep the lead in double digits throughout the second half, while Crawford finished off a stellar game with six assists and just one late turnover in 45 minutes.

And two nights after the Suns blew out the hapless Sacramento Kings by 48 points, they retained none of that momentum — a typical development in the veteran club’s all-or-nothing season under coach Terry Porter.

Shaquille O’Neal had 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and 12 rebounds, while Leandro Barbosa added several of his 20 points in garbage time. Steve Nash had 16 points and nine assists, and former Warriors forward Matt Barnes scored 10 points in his own homecoming.

Golden State opened with an electric 43-point first quarter, its highest-scoring period of the season. The Warriors hit five 3-pointers among their first six baskets, and they racked up a season-high 72 points by halftime.

Yet Monta Ellis had his roughest outing since returning from his serious ankle injury seven games ago, scoring his only two points on free throws during 28 minutes of 0-for-7 shooting.

Richardson and Barnes both were key contributors during the Warriors’ memorable playoff run in 2007, but Richardson was traded a few weeks after the eighth-seeded Warriors knocked off Dallas. His return with the Bobcats last season produced just 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting in Charlotte’s 31-point loss.

Barnes’ production dipped last season with the Warriors after he failed to get a lucrative free-agent deal, and he signed with Phoenix last July, joining his sixth NBA club in six years.

The Suns and Warriors will finish the home-and-home series in Phoenix on Friday night. Golden State has lost six straight games in Arizona.

Notes: Warriors G Marco Belinelli missed his 11th straight game

with a sprained right ankle, but has begun working on his conditioning with hopes of returning to practice after the All-Star break. F Brandan Wright, who’s been out for 13 games with a partially dislocated shoulder, isn’t as far along in his rehab. … Golden State hadn’t cracked 40 points in a quarter all season. … Barnes went out to dinner with Ellis and Jackson on Tuesday night.