The Warriors have been looking for someone to step into the role as guard Monta Ellis' sidekick. Monday, Ellis didn't need one. The sixth-year guard set a career-high with 45 points, leading the Warriors to 126-107 come-from-behind win over the Indiana Pacers. Ellis fouled out with 6:02 left in the fourth quarter, but the damage was already done. Ellis played 42 straight minutes and was 15 of 27 from the field to go with five rebounds, five steals and seven turnovers. He also defended Pacers forward Danny Granger for most of the second half. Granger, who had averaged more than 38 points against the Warriors his last three games, finished with 22 points on 7-for-17 shooting 15 came in the second half.
When Ellis fouled out on a questionable offensive foul call, forward Corey Maggette picked up the scoring slack. He scored 12 in the fourth quarter and finished with 14 points, six assists and six rebounds.
Led by Ellis, the Warriors (6-10) snapped a two-game losing streak, rebounding from a 33-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
Watson had 18 points, six assists and four rebounds in 35 minutes, the most he's played since returning from swine flu. Guard Anthony Morrow had 18 points and six rebounds.
The Warriors probably would've been ran out of the gym early if not for Ellis. He had 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting after the first 12 minutes. Still, the Warriors trailed 33-25 entering the second quarter.
A 6-0 run to start the second put the Warriors down 14 points. Despite committing six turnovers in the first six-plus minutes of the quarter, the Warriors trailed 42-41 with 4:59 left in the half after a 3-pointer by Anthony Morrow.
But before the Warriors could ever seize the lead, they fell apart again. The missed six of their final nine shots of the half and turned the ball over three more times. A pull-up 21-footer by Dunleavy capped a 15-8 Pacers run over the next three minutes. Golden State trailed 57-51 at the half.
Considering their third-quarter history so far this season, the game could have gotten away from the Warriors . Instead, the Warriors came roaring back.
After struggling in third quarters all season in their 10 losses, the Warriors were outscored by an average of 10.8 points in the third quarter the Warriors closed the third quarter with a run to tighten the game.
Morrow nailed a 3-pointer, then followed with a pull-up jumper on a fast-break to cap a 20-9 Warriors run to close the third quarter. Golden State led 85-83 entering their fourth quarter.
The momentum carried into the third quarter. Actually, Ellis brought it with him. He scored seven points in 63 seconds a 3-pointer, a long jumper, then a fast-break lay-up to surpass his previous career-high of 42, which he tied at San Antonio on Wednesday.
The Oracle Arena crowd, which had finally gotten into the game, went crazy when center Chris Hunter, the NBA Development League call-up, threw it down with two hands and got the foul. His free throw put the Warriors ahead 97-85 with just under 10 minutes left in the game.
The Pacers never got the lead to single digits. Golden State shot 67.5 percent in the second half.
Warriors 126, Pacers 107 ?Today: at Denver, 6 p.m. ?TV: CSN
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