You just know the Golden State Warriors’ five-hour flight to
Oakland was lovely. It wasn’t just the fact they closed a five-game
road trip with a 110-103 win over the New Orleans Hornets on
Wednesday night. It was how they did it. By coming back from a
double-digit hole in the fourth quarter. By rallying together after
losing two games in which they led big early. By getting
contributions throughout the lineup.
NEW ORLEANS
You just know the Golden State Warriors’ five-hour flight to Oakland was lovely.
It wasn’t just the fact they closed a five-game road trip with a 110-103 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night. It was how they did it.
By coming back from a double-digit hole in the fourth quarter. By rallying together after losing two games in which they led big early. By getting contributions throughout the lineup.
“We’re going to feel good about ourselves going home,” said guard Monta Ellis after recording 29 points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Warriors (14-21) finished the road trip 2-3, though 1-4 was about the best many thought they could do. More important, they are bubbling with confidence because they played four winning teams tough. They figured out some things with their lineup, got back to playing up-tempo and addressed some of their ills.
“I think it’s because we had been playing good basketball,” coach Keith Smart said. “Sometimes you don’t get the real outcome of the game because you don’t get the win. But I think our guys have had a great deal of mental toughness. That’s what they’re trying to get, mental toughness, to keep working when things are not going their way. Because, eventually, somewhere along the line, things are going to fall in place for you.”
They fell in place Wednesday, especially down the stretch.
Golden State erased an 82-72 deficit starting the fourth quarter, thanks mostly to Ellis. He scored eight points in a minute and 11 seconds, sandwiching 3-pointers around a floater in the lane over Hornets center Emeka Okafor. Moments later, a three-point play by Warriors swingman Reggie Williams tied the game at 85.
At the 6:48 mark, a 3-pointer from forward Dorell Wright put the Warriors up 90-89.
Golden State never trailed again. Wright’s 3-pointer started a 12-0 run that shifted all the momentum to the Warriors. Wright capped the run by making the extra pass, finding guard Stephen Curry in the corner for a 3-pointer. The Warriors were up 99-89 with 4:14 left.
“They got it going on us,” said Hornets guard Chris Paul (24 points, 13 assists, six rebounds). “Monta Ellis scored eight quick points and they had the momentum from there. We made a run, but we put ourselves in a hole, and we just have to close out teams like that. I think that was a bad loss for us.”
It was, by all accounts, a good win for the Warriors. Not just because they now start a stretch in which they play 18 of 22 at home. But the Warriors got the first glimpse of how they were built to look.
For the first time since 2008, Golden State had its entire roster healthy and ready. The Warriors went five deep off the bench, getting 30 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists from their reserves.
Reserve big man Lou Amndson backed up starter Andris Biedrins and posted a season-high with 12 rebounds to go with seven points and two assists. Guard Acie Law spelled Curry, totaling four points and a steal in nine minutes. Williams was 1-for-5 shooting, but was big down the stretch, including his ability to run point to help the Warriors break the desperate Hornets’ pressure.
Forward Vladimir Radmanovic made several critical plays, totaling five points, two assists and two rebounds in the third quarter to help the Warriors stay in striking distance.
“Tonight was a perfect example of what depth can bring you,” said forward David Lee, who returned to action after missing Monday’s game with a bruised tailbone. “We didn’t play a great game, but everybody filled in for everyone else. … Now we can wear teams down, we can be up-tempo and play the way we want to play knowing that when you get tired somebody can come in for you.”
— Story by Marcus Thompson II, Contra Costa Times
