GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (9-7) at GOLDEN STATE (7-7)

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 92
GOLDEN STATE 111 0:52 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 94
GOLDEN STATE 113 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 24 26 18 26 94
GOLDEN STATE 29 30 24 30 113 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: HOU - MIKE JAMES 19, BONZI WELLS 13, TRACY
MCGRADY 11
GSW - BARON DAVIS 27, STEPHEN JACKSON 19, AL
HARRINGTON 18</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
HOUSTON 94
GOLDEN STATE 113 FINAL</div>

 

By Ryan Leong
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- After an embarrassing start tothe season, the Golden State Warriors are reminding the leaguetheir playoff surge last season was no fluke.


Baron Davis scored 27 points and Stephen Jackson added 20 as theWarriors rolled to their fifth consecutive victory with a113-94 triumph over the slumping Houston Rockets on Thursday.

The Warriors have been on a tear since losing their first sixgames, winning five in a row and eight of their last nine gamesto improve to 8-7. The Warriors are the fastest team in NBAhistory to go over .500 after starting the season 0-6.

Unlike Golden State, Houston has gone in the opposite directionafter a promising start. After beginning the season 6-1,Houston has dropped seven of 10 games.


The Warriors jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead, making four oftheir first five shots. The Rockets missed their first fourshots and didn't score until a free throw by Rafer Alston with9:12 remaining in the first quarter and didn't hit their firstbasket until 21 seconds later.


Golden State used that quick start to jump out to a 15-pointfirst-quarter lead before Houston started chipping away at theadvantage, even taking a two-point lead midway through thesecond quarter at 40-38.


However, the Warriors answered with a a 17-4 run over a 31/2-minute stretch to retake a double-digit lead. They led,59-50, at the break.


The Warriors increased their lead to 13 points after a 3-pointerby Matt Barnes in the third quarter and took a 72-55 edge with7 1/2 minutes left on an alley-oop pass from Barnes to MontaEllis for the slam dunk that sent the fans into a frenzy.

Golden State took an 18-point advantage into the fourth quarterand increased the lead to as many as 24 points with Yao sittingon the bench.


Mike James scored 19 points off the bench to pace the Rockets.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (94) AT GOLDEN STATE (113)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R ALSTON G 18:03 3-8 1-2 0 1 1 2 1 2 1 8
T MCGRADY G 33:58 5-14 1-2 0 2 2 6 4 0 2 11
C HAYES F 9:43 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 0 0
S BATTIER F 23:18 2-6 1-1 1 1 2 2 4 2 1 5
Y MING C 28:00 4-12 2-2 1 6 7 1 0 0 5 10
S FRANCIS 28:36 3-5 1-5 1 3 4 5 6 1 1 8
B WELLS 26:04 4-8 5-7 2 3 5 5 2 0 1 13
M JAMES 25:08 8-14 2-2 0 2 2 2 4 0 2 19
L SCOLA 18:59 4-8 1-4 4 5 9 1 2 2 1 9
K SNYDER 19:28 2-4 3-5 2 4 6 1 1 0 0 7
L HEAD 8:43 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

TOTALS 240:00 37-83 17-30 12 29 41 25 26 7 14 94
(.446) (.567) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 14 (0 PTS)

GOLDEN STATE

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

B DAVIS G 40:04 9-14 8-11 0 5 5 8 4 5 3 27
M ELLIS G 43:23 8-14 2-2 3 7 10 1 2 0 4 18
A HARRINGTON F 30:13 7-10 0-0 1 4 5 1 4 2 2 18
S JACKSON F 44:30 6-19 7-9 1 5 6 7 3 2 4 19
A BIEDRINS C 22:30 3-6 3-6 2 8 10 2 3 0 0 9
M BARNES 21:02 2-5 1-2 0 4 4 2 1 0 1 6
K AZUBUIKE 19:20 4-8 1-3 2 2 4 1 1 0 0 9
M PIETRUS 9:40 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2
D MBENGA 4:20 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
T HUDSON 2:38 1-1 2-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
A CROSHERE 2:20 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 41-79 24-35 9 36 45 22 21 9 14 113
(.519) (.686) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 14 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON 24 26 18 26 - 94
GOLDEN STATE 29 30 24 30 - 113

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3, S FRANCIS, K SNYDER, L SCOLA. GOLDEN STATE -
M BARNES, A BIEDRINS, M ELLIS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 3-15 (.200), R ALSTON 1-4, T MCGRADY 0-
2, S BATTIER 0-2, S FRANCIS 1-1, B WELLS 0-2, M JAMES 1-4. GOLDEN STATE 7-
18 (.389), B DAVIS 1-3, M ELLIS 0-1, A HARRINGTON 4-5, S JACKSON 0-
5, M BARNES 1-3, T HUDSON 1-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JAMES CAPERS, JOHN GOBEL, SCOTT FOSTER.
A - 19,596. T - 2:13.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (94)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 18:03 3-8 1-2 0-1 2 1 8
T McGrady 33:58 5-14 1-2 0-2 6 4 11
C Hayes 9:43 0-0 0-0 1-3 0 2 0
S Battier 23:18 2-6 1-1 1-2 2 4 5
Y Ming 28:00 4-12 2-2 1-7 1 0 10
S Francis 28:36 3-5 1-5 1-4 5 6 8
B Wells 26:04 4-8 5-7 2-5 5 2 13
M James 25:08 8-14 2-2 0-2 2 4 19
L Scola 18:59 4-8 1-4 4-9 1 2 9
K Snyder 19:28 2-4 3-5 2-6 1 1 7
L Head 8:43 2-4 0-0 0-0 0 0 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-83 17-30 12-41 25 26 94
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.446, FT-.567. 3-Point Goals:
3-15, .200 (R Alston 1-4, T McGrady 0-2, S
Battier 0-2, S Francis 1-1, B Wells 0-2, M
James 1-4). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:6 (Y Ming 3, S Francis, K Snyder, L
Scola). Turnovers:14 (Y Ming 5, T McGrady 2,
M James 2, B Wells, S Francis, L Scola, R
Alston, S Battier). Steals: 7 (R Alston 2, S
Battier 2, L Scola 2, S Francis).


GOLDEN STATE (113)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Davis 40:04 9-14 8-11 0-5 8 4 27
M Ellis 43:23 8-14 2-2 3-10 1 2 18
A Harrington 30:13 7-10 0-0 1-5 1 4 18
S Jackson 44:30 6-19 7-9 1-6 7 3 19
A Biedrins 22:30 3-6 3-6 2-10 2 3 9
M Barnes 21:02 2-5 1-2 0-4 2 1 6
K Azubuike 19:20 4-8 1-3 2-4 1 1 9
M Pietrus 9:40 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 2
D Mbenga 4:20 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 0
T Hudson 2:38 1-1 2-2 0-0 0 0 5
A Croshere 2:20 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 41-79 24-35 9-45 22 21 113
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.519, FT-.686. 3-Point Goals:
7-18, .389 (B Davis 1-3, M Ellis 0-1, A
Harrington 4-5, S Jackson 0-5, M Barnes 1-3,
T Hudson 1-1). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:3 (M Barnes, A Biedrins, M Ellis).
Turnovers:14 (S Jackson 4, M Ellis 4, B Davis
3, A Harrington 2, M Barnes). Steals: 9 (B
Davis 5, A Harrington 2, S Jackson 2).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 24 26 18 26 - 94
GOLDEN STATE 29 30 24 30 - 113
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,596. T: 2:13.
Officials: James Capers, John Gobel, Scott
Foster.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (94) AT GOLDEN STATE (113)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R ALSTON G 18:03 3-8 1-2 0 1 1 2 1 2 1 8
T MCGRADY G 33:58 5-14 1-2 0 2 2 6 4 0 2 11
C HAYES F 9:43 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 0 0
S BATTIER F 23:18 2-6 1-1 1 1 2 2 4 2 1 5
Y MING C 28:00 4-12 2-2 1 6 7 1 0 0 5 10
S FRANCIS 28:36 3-5 1-5 1 3 4 5 6 1 1 8
B WELLS 26:03 4-8 5-7 2 3 5 5 2 0 1 13
M JAMES 25:08 8-14 2-2 0 2 2 2 4 0 2 19
L SCOLA 18:59 4-8 1-4 4 5 9 1 2 2 1 9
K SNYDER 19:28 2-4 3-5 2 4 6 1 1 0 0 7
L HEAD 8:44 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-83 17-30 12 29 41 25 26 7 14 94
(.446) (.567) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 14 (0 PTS)

GOLDEN STATE

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

B DAVIS G 40:04 9-14 8-11 0 5 5 8 4 5 3 27
M ELLIS G 43:23 8-14 2-2 3 7 10 1 2 0 4 18
A HARRINGTON F 30:13 7-10 0-0 1 4 5 1 4 2 2 18
S JACKSON F 44:30 6-19 7-9 1 5 6 7 3 2 4 19
A BIEDRINS C 22:30 3-6 3-6 2 8 10 2 3 0 0 9
M BARNES 21:02 2-5 1-2 0 4 4 2 1 0 1 6
K AZUBUIKE 19:20 4-8 1-3 2 2 4 1 1 0 0 9
M PIETRUS 9:40 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2
D MBENGA 4:20 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
T HUDSON 2:38 1-1 2-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
A CROSHERE 2:20 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
P O'BRYANT DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 41-79 24-35 9 36 45 22 21 9 14 113
(.519) (.686) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 14 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON 24 26 18 26 - 94
GOLDEN STATE 29 30 24 30 - 113

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3, S FRANCIS, K SNYDER, L SCOLA. GOLDEN STATE -
M BARNES, A BIEDRINS, M ELLIS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 3-15 (.200), R ALSTON 1-4, T MCGRADY 0-
2, S BATTIER 0-2, S FRANCIS 1-1, B WELLS 0-2, M JAMES 1-4. GOLDEN STATE 7-
18 (.389), B DAVIS 1-3, M ELLIS 0-1, A HARRINGTON 4-5, S JACKSON 0-
5, M BARNES 1-3, T HUDSON 1-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - T MCGRADY. GOLDEN STATE - S JACKSON.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JAMES CAPERS, JOHN GOBEL, SCOTT FOSTER.
A - 19,596. T - 2:13.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (94)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 18:03 3-8 1-2 0-1 2 1 8
T McGrady 33:58 5-14 1-2 0-2 6 4 11
C Hayes 9:43 0-0 0-0 1-3 0 2 0
S Battier 23:18 2-6 1-1 1-2 2 4 5
Y Ming 28:00 4-12 2-2 1-7 1 0 10
S Francis 28:36 3-5 1-5 1-4 5 6 8
B Wells 26:03 4-8 5-7 2-5 5 2 13
M James 25:08 8-14 2-2 0-2 2 4 19
L Scola 18:59 4-8 1-4 4-9 1 2 9
K Snyder 19:28 2-4 3-5 2-6 1 1 7
L Head 8:44 2-4 0-0 0-0 0 0 4
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-83 17-30 12-41 25 26 94
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.446, FT-.567. 3-Point Goals:
3-15, .200 (R Alston 1-4, T McGrady 0-2, S
Battier 0-2, S Francis 1-1, B Wells 0-2, M
James 1-4). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:6 (Y Ming 3, S Francis, K Snyder, L
Scola). Turnovers:14 (Y Ming 5, T McGrady 2,
M James 2, B Wells, S Francis, L Scola, R
Alston, S Battier). Steals: 7 (R Alston 2, S
Battier 2, L Scola 2, S Francis).


GOLDEN STATE (113)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Davis 40:04 9-14 8-11 0-5 8 4 27
M Ellis 43:23 8-14 2-2 3-10 1 2 18
A Harrington 30:13 7-10 0-0 1-5 1 4 18
S Jackson 44:30 6-19 7-9 1-6 7 3 19
A Biedrins 22:30 3-6 3-6 2-10 2 3 9
M Barnes 21:02 2-5 1-2 0-4 2 1 6
K Azubuike 19:20 4-8 1-3 2-4 1 1 9
M Pietrus 9:40 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 2
D Mbenga 4:20 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 0
T Hudson 2:38 1-1 2-2 0-0 0 0 5
A Croshere 2:20 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
P O'Bryant DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 41-79 24-35 9-45 22 21 113
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.519, FT-.686. 3-Point Goals:
7-18, .389 (B Davis 1-3, M Ellis 0-1, A
Harrington 4-5, S Jackson 0-5, M Barnes 1-3,
T Hudson 1-1). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:3 (M Barnes, A Biedrins, M Ellis).
Turnovers:14 (S Jackson 4, M Ellis 4, B Davis
3, A Harrington 2, M Barnes). Steals: 9 (B
Davis 5, A Harrington 2, S Jackson 2).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 24 26 18 26 - 94
GOLDEN STATE 29 30 24 30 - 113
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 1 (T McGrady, 2:33
2nd). Golden State - 1 (S Jackson, 1:16 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,596. T: 2:13.
Officials: James Capers, John Gobel, Scott
Foster.</div>

 

By Ryan Leong
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- After an embarrassing start tothe season, the Golden State Warriors are reminding the leaguetheir playoff surge last season was no fluke.


Baron Davis scored 27 points and Stephen Jackson added 19 as theWarriors rolled to their fifth consecutive victory with a113-94 triumph over the slumping Houston Rockets on Thursday.

The Warriors have been on a tear since losing their first sixgames, winning five in a row and eight of their last nine gamesto improve to 8-7. The Warriors are the fastest team in NBAhistory to go over .500 after starting the season 0-6.

"I told you all, I wouldn't worry early in the season and we gotback to .500 quicker than I expected," Davis said. "But at thesame time, knowing that we have our whole team together,anything is possible with these guys in this locker room."

Unlike Golden State, Houston has gone in the opposite directionafter a promising start. After beginning the season 6-1,Houston has dropped seven of 10 games.


"As a team, its easy when you're going good, you're playing welland everything's happening but when you start struggling, thenyou've got to rely on your teammates," Houston coach RickAdelman said. "Give them (the Warriors) credit, they were veryactive and attacked us all night long but we've got to respondbetter. We've got a day off and we've got to try to get threewins on this trip."


"It's only 16 games into the season, we'll turn it around,"Rockets guard Tracy McGrady said. "We're really not even havingthat bad of a season. We're still above .500 (9-8) and we'regoing to continue to get better."


The Warriors jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead, making four oftheir first five shots. The Rockets missed their first fourshots and didn't score until a free throw by Rafer Alston with9:12 remaining in the first quarter. Their first basket didn'tcome until 21 seconds later.


Golden State used that quick start to jump out to a 15-pointfirst-quarter lead before Houston started chipping away at theadvantage, even taking a two-point lead midway through thesecond quarter at 40-38.


However, the Warriors answered with a a 17-4 run over a 31/2-minute stretch to take a double-digit lead. They led,59-50, at the break.


The Warriors increased their margin to 13 points after a3-pointer by Matt Barnes in the third quarter and took a 72-55edge with 7 1/2 minutes left on an alley-oop pass from Barnes toMonta Ellis for the slam dunk that sent the fans into a frenzy.

"That energy just wasn't there for us," said McGrady, who scoredonly 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting. "They just had more energythan us and didn't look back. That's not an excuse as to whywe lost the game, they outplayed us."


Golden State took an 18-point advantage into the fourth quarterand increased the lead to as many as 24 points with Yao Mingsitting on the bench, likely resting with the team coming off atough win in Phoenix one night earlier.


"The way we're playing we want everybody to be aggressive, wewant everybody to feel they have the green light to shootanytime they need to and shoot it with confidence," Jacksonsaid. "I'm the guy that just tries to slide in and bring thatenergy all four quarters. As we get better with our roles, Ithink we'll continue to play well."


Mike James scored 19 points off the bench to pace the Rockets.

"A quality win against a good team and we both playedback-to-back," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "We had a goodgame plan and carried it out. We've beaten some good teams andgot some road wins, you can't do that unless you're playingwell."