Charlotte Bobcats swingman Stephen Jackson is the author of one
of the greatest sports quotes ever.
”
I make love to pressure,
”
the ever-loquacious Jackson said as a Golden State Warrior
during the team’s We Believe playoff run in 2007. Friday night,
Golden State was reminded why Jackson could boast such a claim. He
banked in a 3-pointer with six-tenths of a second left in
regulation, sending the game into overtime. He then scored seven
points during the five-minute extra session to help the Charlotte
Bobcats steal a 121-113 victory from his former team.
OAKLAND
Charlotte Bobcats swingman Stephen Jackson is the author of one of the greatest sports quotes ever.
“I make love to pressure,” the ever-loquacious Jackson said as a Golden State Warrior during the team’s We Believe playoff run in 2007.
Friday night, Golden State was reminded why Jackson could boast such a claim. He banked in a 3-pointer with six-tenths of a second left in regulation, sending the game into overtime. He then scored seven points during the five-minute extra session to help the Charlotte Bobcats steal a 121-113 victory from his former team.
Jackson finished with 31 points and seven rebounds, handing the Warriors a loss they could ill-afford. Golden State, losers of four straight overall, has opened an eight-game homestand with three consecutive losses. Charlotte was one of the few losing teams to come through Oracle Arena during this stretch. With Utah, Chicago and Denver still on deck.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points. Monta Ellis had 21 points and six assists. David Lee and Andris Biedrins posted double-doubles, combining for 22 points and 23 rebounds. Dorell Wright had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Still, Jackson stole the show. He had lots of help from D.J. Augustin, who finished with 27 points and 12 assists. With the game tied at 105, Augustin scored on consecutive trips to start a 7-0 Charlotte run.
Curry cut the Warriors’ deficit to 112-108 with three free throws. But Jackson answered with another 3-pointer. He had been booed all game by Warriors fans, who remember his tumultuous departure from Golden State. He demanded a trade and was shipped to Charlotte in November 2009.
The Warriors had kept Charlotte at arm’s length all game. So when they ran off a 12-5 spurt, capped by an Ellis’ 3-pointer to put Golden State ahead 76-60 with 2:37 left in the third quarter, it looked as if the Warriors would cruise to a much-needed victory.
But by the time the fourth quarter began, the lead was down to 76-71. How?
Because the rest of the third quarter, the Warriors missed their next three shots, all jumpers, and turned it over once. Meanwhile, the Bobcats’ Nazr Mohammed scored seven points during a 9-0 run to close the quarter.
The Warriors found themselves in a slugfest the rest of the way, trading baskets and needing big plays to keep the Bobcats from getting over the hump. Golden State made enough mental errors to give the Bobcats hope.
Two free throws by Gerald Henderson pulled Charlotte within 83-82, but Curry followed with a step-back jumper. Jackson cut the Warriors’ lead back to two points, 88-86 after a layup. But after four consecutive offensive rebounds by the Warriors, Curry knocked down a 3-pointer to put Golden State up by five with just over three minutes left.
The Warriors led 93-90 with 2:38 left after Charlotte’s Kwame Brown scored on an up-and-under inside. But two Wright free throws, followed by another Curry 3-pointer, put the Warriors up by eight.
Golden State let Charlotte right back in it. Gerald Wallace made a 3-pointer, and after a Curry miss, Brown scored another layup.
Charlotte got the ball back down by 98-95 after a Vladimir Radmanovic turnover. But after a Warriors stop, Radmanovic redeemed himself by finding Wright for a breakaway dunk. Golden State led 100-95 with 27.8 seconds left.
One more gaffe _ Ellis fouled Jackson shooting a 3-pointer _ led to Charlotte cutting the Warriors’ lead to 100-98 with 17.4 seconds left. Then Ellis, who was intentionally fouled, split a pair of free throws, leaving the door cracked again for Charlotte.
The Bobcats took advantage. Down three points with 15.9 seconds left, Wallace missed a 3-pointer. But Augustin got the rebound and found Jackson wide open at the top of the key. He banked it in to send the game to overtime.
Curry got the Warriors going with nine points in the first quarter. The Warriors built their lead as large as 12 in the second quarter, thanks to the reserves.
Midway through the second quarter, Reggie Williams and Acie Law came off the bench and sparked the Warriors on a 14-4 run. Law scored two of the baskets during the run and assisted on the third. Williams capped it with back-to-back 3-pointers, the latter putting the Warriors ahead 48-36 with three minutes left in the half.
— Story by Marcus Thompson II, Contra Costa Times
