You might have expected Warriors guard Monta
Ellis, who learned Thursday that he wasn’t selected as an All-Star
reserve, to put together one of his captivating performances. You
know, prove they were wrong. Instead, the captivating performance
was provided by his backcourt mate Stephen Curry.
You might have expected Warriors guard Monta Ellis, who learned Thursday that he wasn’t selected as an All-Star reserve, to put together one of his captivating performances. You know, prove they were wrong.
Instead, the captivating performance was provided by his backcourt mate Stephen Curry.
The Warriors’ third-year point guard finished with 36 points in Golden State’s 109-101 win over Denver on Thursday night. Curry took only 17 shots from the field, added seven assists, seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal with just one turnover.
Golden State (9-14) snapped a two-game losing streak and got a much-needed road victory.
“You can rave about the shooting, rave about the points,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said of Curry, “but he played the game tonight like he was in total control.”
Certainly, the Warriors were playing against a struggling Nuggets squad. Denver (15-12), now losers of five straight games, was missing two starters: forward Danilo Gallinari, arguably the Nuggets’ best player, and center Timofey Mosgov. On top of that, Denver was playing its second game in as many nights.
Golden State took advantage.
The Warriors held the Nuggets around 40 percent shooting most of the game. More important, Golden State outrebounded Denver 41-39 and held the Nuggets to eight offensive rebounds.
Golden State’s Andris Biedrins and David Lee combined for 16 rebounds.
What’s more, the Warriors had 14 blocks, five by reserve Ekpe Udoh.
“Ekpe did an unbelievable job,” Lee said. “He set the tone. But the biggest thing was when they drove in the second half, we had bodies there, and we had guys helping the helper. We kept them off the boards; when we do that we’re going to score enough points to win. It was good that we got stops tonight.”
The game didn’t start as well as it ended, however. Golden State trailed 51-47 at the half and Jackson was not happy with his club’s energy and effort.
“Coach ripped us at halftime about our effort,” Curry said. “He got into us.”
It worked.
In the third quarter, the Warriors stepped on the gas, and Curry was driving.
Golden State opened the quarter on a 24-5 run. The end of the run detailed how Curry dominated the game. He rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Denver’s Rudy Fernandez, pushed the ball upcourt and found Dorell Wright for an open 3-pointer. The next trip down, Curry converted a nifty left-handed layup.
After he corralled another defensive rebound, Curry capped the run with a 3-pointer from the wing.
With Golden State ahead 71-56 with just under five minutes left in the third, Curry gave a shimmy before heading back to the defensive end.
“I tried not to laugh and stay in coach mode,” said Jackson, who was known for a shimmy or two in his NBA playing day. “Now I know why my dad told me to stop doing it.”
With back-to-back positive performances, including Tuesday’s loss to Oklahoma City, Golden State is feeling good about themselves. The Warriors have two days off before starting a three-game home stand.
Three guards from the Western Conference were selected as reserves for the 2012 All-Star Game in Orlando, Fla. Ellis was not one of them.
“That’s the third straight year,” Curry said. “If he would have made it, no one would’ve said he was undeserving. I’m sure it would’ve meant a lot to him to be selected to be an All-Star, but it won’t affect his play.”
Ellis is averaging 22.6 points per game and is on pace for a career-high with 6.3 assists per contest. But his team entered Thursday in the bottom rung of the Western Conference. Ellis had better numbers the previous two seasons but didn’t get in largely because of the Warriors’ losing record.
“Don’t care,” Ellis said about being left off the All-Star team. “Don’t care. Different year, same thing.”
With the Warriors still losing, and Ellis’ statistics not as mind-blowing as they’ve been, his chances of making it this season figured to be slimmer.
Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook, having a stellar season for one of the league’s best teams, was a virtual lock to be named a reserve. The other two guard spots went to two highly respected veterans – San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Phoenix’s Steve Nash.
Parker is having a usually solid season for a Spurs team that has the second-best record in the West. And Parker’s production (18.9 points and 7.7 assists per game) is especially important since Manu Ginobili has been out with a broken wrist and Tim Duncan is on the decline.
Nash is the one Warriors fans may have an issue with being selected over Ellis. Nash is averaging 15.1 points and 10 assists per game, good numbers but not special for Nash. Plus, like the Warriors, the Suns are a sub .500 team (11-15).
But Nash is a two-time league MVP, a surefire Basketball Hall of Famer, has a great reputation around the league and has much more fan appeal than Ellis.
To Jackson, Ellis wasn’t even the greatest snub on the team. That goes to rookie Klay Thompson, who set a career-high with 19 points in just 18 minutes Thursday. He was left off the 10-man roster of rookies selected to play in the Rising Stars challenge during All-Star Weekend.
“I’m still baffled that Klay Thompson is not in the Rookies vs. Sophomores game,” Jackson said.
Warriors guard Nate Robinson returned to action. He missed Tuesday’s loss because of a strained left groin.
Brandon Rush was 1 of 2 from 3-point range Thursday. He’s now knocked down at least one 3-pointer in 14 straight games, a career-high streak. While with Indiana, Rush made a 3-pointer in 13 straight games, between Jan. 22-Feb. 20, 2010.
