OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) For 2{ quarters, Speedy Claxton did nearly anything he pleased against one of the greatest defenders in NBA history.

And Gary Payton reacted like a man being embarrassed in front of his family, which is exactly what was happening.

While Payton's hometown fans and relatives watched, his customary snarl took on an unfamiliar tinge of helplessness _ and he probably got a stiff neck from watching Claxton speed past him for 18 points.

Finally, Payton had taken enough. When Claxton fouled him on a steal attempt, the Lakers guard elbowed Claxton and then charged, wrapping the Golden State guard in a bear hug.

It was a clumsy, desperate attempt to start a fight _ and though no punches were thrown, Payton's mission was accomplished. Claxton and Payton were ejected, and the Lakers won by a point.

``I don't think he liked the way Speedy was busting him up,'' Warriors forward Cliff Robinson said. ``That isn't the first time we've seen that this year. People come into a game and don't respect Speedy, and pretty soon they learn that this guy is for real.''

During his first three years in the NBA, Claxton rarely seemed capable of becoming anything more than a straw-thin, injury-plagued guard with a classic nickname. The Hofstra graduate missed his entire first season in Philadelphia with a torn knee ligament, and sat out more than half of last season with a dislocated shoulder.

And just as Claxton's career was reaching top speed late in his first season with the Warriors, he broke a bone in his right hand on Wednesday. Claxton will be out at least three weeks, but it won't make the Warriors forget what he's done since signing with them as a free agent.

He has earned the respect of the West's top point guards while wresting Golden State's starting job away from veteran Nick Van Exel.

Claxton gets a quiet thrill every time he holds his own against the players he admired growing up _ even Payton, who found out he simply wasn't Speedy enough.

``This is what I thought was going to happen right from the start,'' Claxton said. ``I definitely thought in my mind that I could do this, but it took a little while to get used to everything. They know I'm a good player now.''

Claxton has averaged more than 16 points and six assists while starting 19 straight games for the Warriors entering the weekend. He even shook off a sprained thumb to score a career-high 28 points against Memphis on Wednesday night, leading Golden State to a 99-92 road victory.

Many teams that passed on Claxton during free agency last summer now regret it. Warriors coach Eric Musselman hears complimentary words from nearly every opposing coach who can't figure out how to slow down one of the NBA's fastest players with the ball in his hands.

``His stock has risen dramatically,'' Musselman said. ``This is the guy we imagined he would be.''

Musselman, a former point guard at San Diego, praises the intangible aspects of Claxton's game: basic passing, pushing the offense, knowing when to slow things down. He also loves Claxton's increased assertiveness _ at times, he's downright bossy _ on offense.

Claxton's breakout year actually began last season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich relied on Claxton during 24 postseason games, even though he played just 30 in the regular season. He was on the floor in every key minute of the Spurs' title-clinching victory in Game 6 of the finals, replacing Parker's inconsistency with steady, assured play.

``I think what's made the difference for Speedy is getting in the finals last year. When you're on the floor in the most pressure-packed situation there is, you learn a lot about how to handle yourself,'' Portland's Damon Stoudamire said. ``Everybody can see he's on the way to being a great player in this league.''

Many Golden State fans were unimpressed at first when Claxton was hired as the ostensible replacement for budding star Gilbert Arenas and fan favorite Earl Boykins, who both left as free agents.

The Warriors also traded for Van Exel shortly after signing Claxton, who couldn't believe it when a friend broke the news to him. ``I just thought he must have got it wrong,'' Claxton said. ``But I finally decided it's a good situation because any team needs two good point guards.''

So Claxton went to training camp in Hawaii determined to improve. His once-suspect jumper is much more reliable now _ and once Oakland fans got a look at his fast-paced game, he became nearly as popular as the ebullient Arenas or the 5-foot-5 Boykins.

Claxton's transition to California life also has been smooth, though the slower pace was an adjustment for the native New Yorker. He thought about spending some of his free-agent riches on a house _ until he got a peek at the Bay area's ridiculous real-estate market and decided to play it cool.

``I looked at the prices and said, 'Hey, I'm definitely not going to buy anything,''' he said. ``Then I thought I'd just rent something and enjoy the weather.''