Warriors trump Raptors
Associated Press
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TORONTO — This was the lineup the Golden State Warriors have been waiting for. All they need now is to keep everyone healthy.
David Lee had 21 points and 12 rebounds, Stephen Curry scored 17 points before leaving with an injury, and the Warriors beat the Toronto Raptors 114-102 on Monday night.
Andrew Bogut returned from a 38-game absence to score 12 points as the Warriors earned their first victory in four games against Eastern Conference opponents this month.
“He was great,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said of Bogut. “You can tell we’re a different basketball team with him on the floor. He’s a weapon on the offensive end with his ability to pass, his ability to defend, rebound, block shots and also make plays. It’s great to have him.”
Jackson said Bogut “completes us as a team.”
To Lee, Bogut’s biggest contribution was anchoring the defense.
“I felt like I became a better defender tonight because he’s constantly talking to me and constantly rotating to get my back,” Lee said.
Bogut hadn’t played since Nov. 7 due to soreness in his surgically repaired left ankle. He finished with eight rebounds and four blocks in 23 minutes.
“It’s been a long season for me so far, a frustrating season both mentally and physically,” he said. “Just to be out there running up and down the court again, and especially getting a win, was very satisfying.”
The top pick in the 2005 draft, Bogut said he had an “explosiveness” that was lacking in his brief four-game spell earlier this season. He had two dunks, including a running, soaring slam in the second quarter off a pass from Curry.
“That kind of showed my ankle was feeling pretty good,” Bogut said.
Curry called Bogut’s return “a huge bonus.”
“He showed tonight how he can clog the paint, protect the rim and even make plays on the offensive end,” Curry said.
Less of a bonus was Curry limping off the court in the third quarter after twisting his injured right ankle. Jackson sent assistant coach Pete Myers to watch Curry run in the hallway and debating sending him back out. But with time winding down and the Warriors in control, Jackson wasn’t taking any risks.
“He wanted to get back in the game but I’ve got more interest in his future and our future,” Jackson said.
Klay Thompson scored 19 points while Carl Landry had six of his 12 points in the fourth as the Warriors broke it open.
Harrison Barnes and Jarrett Jack each scored 14 for Golden State, which wraps up a four-game road trip at Cleveland on Tuesday. Bogut will likely sit out the second game of the back-to-back, but is expected to play again when the Warriors host Dallas on Thursday.
Curry’s status for the game against the Cavaliers was unknown.
“As long as I’m not putting myself in jeopardy to go play, I’m trying to get back out there,” he said.
Aaron Gray had a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points and Ed Davis had 12 for the Raptors, who have lost seven of nine. Alan Anderson, Jose Calderon and Terrence Ross each scored 11 for Toronto.
Up by two points to begin the fourth, the Warriors pulled away with a 12-3 run as Toronto missed 10 of its first 11 field goal attempts of the quarter.
“I see fatigue, I see mental and physical fatigue,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “I thought we had it going right until the fourth quarter.”
Gray, back in the Raptors’ starting lineup to defend Bogut, scored a season-high 10 points in the first as the Raptors led 28-25 after one.
Anderson came off the bench to score 11 points for Toronto in the second but Thompson had nine for the Warriors, including a tying 3-pointer with 1:54 left in the half. Another jumper by Thompson briefly gave Golden State the lead, but two free throws by DeRozan made it 52-all at the half.
Golden State led 71-61 with 6:18 left in the third but back-to-back 3s by Calderon sparked a 16-4 run to put Toronto up two less than four minutes later. The Warriors reclaimed the lead thanks to consecutive baskets by Jack, and took a narrow 84-82 edge into the fourth.
DENVER — Andre Iguodala made a free throw with 0.4 seconds remaining after forcing a turnover to deny a last-second shot by Indiana, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Pacers 102-101 Monday night.
Iguodala finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and had the defensive play of the game when he stole the ball from Paul George as the Pacers’ guard maneuvered for a last-second shot.
Iguoadala signaled for time out with 0.5 seconds remaining. On the inbounds, Andre Miller lobbed a pass toward the basket that Iguodala and George both went after with George making contact and getting called for the foul.
After missing four consecutive free throws earlier in the fourth quarter, Iguodala coolly sank the tiebreaker and missed the second on purpose and the buzzer sounded as the ball rattled off the backboard.
GRIZZLIES 103, 76ERS 100
PHILADELPHIA — Marc Gasol scored a season-high 27 points and Rudy Gay had 26 to help Memphis rally from 17 points down to beat Philadelphia.
Jerryd Bayless scored a season-high 21 points to help the Grizzlies win without point guard Mike Conley, out with a sprained left ankle.
The Grizzlies rallied from their double-digit deficit to take control late in the fourth. Bayless missed a jumper, Gay grabbed the rebound and made it 101-100 on a bucket with 13.3 seconds left. Philadelphia’s Thaddeus Young missed a short attempt in front of the basket and the Grizzlies grabbed the rebound.
Gay was fouled and made both free throws for a three-point cushion.
Nick Young couldn’t get the tying shot off at the buzzer for the Sixers.
Evan Turner scored a season-high 27 points, Thaddeus Young had 23, and Jrue Holiday added 18 points and 10 assists.
ROCKETS 125, JAZZ 80
SALT LAKE CITY — James Harden scored 25 points and Houston handed Utah its worst home loss in franchise history.
The Jazz had won six straight at home but simply couldn’t keep pace in transition. They were outscored 26-2 on the break and shot just 39.5 percent. Their previous worst defeat at home was by 33 points to Milwaukee on Nov. 18, 1980.
Carlos Delfino and Marcus Morris each hit four 3-pointers for Houston, which made 16 of 34 from beyond the arc. Omer Asik had 19 rebounds as the Rockets (25-22) won their third straight.
Houston led by 21 points in the second, by 35 in the third and kept pouring it on fourth.
Randy Foye led Utah with 12 points.
KINGS 96, WIZARDS 94
WASHINGTON — Isaiah Thomas made a floater with a second to play, capping a seesaw finish as Sacramento broke a four-game losing streak.
Thomas dribbled down the clock after the Wizards tied the game on Martell Webster’s short jumper with 7.9 seconds to play, then drove down the middle and put the ball in with a soft touch from 9 feet.
Thomas had 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and also had seven assists. Francisco Garcia scored 17 points for the Kings in a game that included 16 ties and 11 lead changes.
Emeka Okafor scored a season-high 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and John Wall had 19 points and six assists for the Wizards.
BULLS 93, BOBCATS 85
CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler scored a career-high 19 points and Nate Robinson added 15 as Chicago won for the seventh time in nine games.
Luol Deng returned to the Bulls’ lineup after missing five games with a hamstring injury, and scored 12 points in 31 minutes. Chicago won three of five without Deng as his absence was eased by the strong play of Butler, who returned to a reserve role.
Joakim Noah finished with 13 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists for Central Division-leading Chicago.
Kemba Walker and Ben Gordon led the Bobcats with 18 points apeice. Charlotte has lost nine of its last 11 games.
WARRIORS 114, RAPTORS 102
TORONTO — David Lee had 21 points and 12 rebounds, Stephen Curry scored 17 points before leaving with an injury, and Golden State beat an Eastern Conference opponent for the first time in four games this month.
Klay Thompson scored 19 points, Carl Landry had six of his 12 points in the fourth quarter and Andrew Bogut returned from an injury to also score 12 for the Warriors. Harrison Barnes and Jarrett Jack each scored 14 for Golden State, which wraps up a four-game road trip at Cleveland on Tuesday.
Aaron Gray had a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points and Ed Davis had 12 for the Raptors, who have lost seven of nine. Alan Anderson, Jose Calderon and Terrence Ross each scored 11 for Toronto.
NETS 97, MAGIC 77
NEW YORK — Deron Williams had 20 points and nine assists to help Brooklyn sweep the four-game season against Orlando and win its its eighth straight at home.
The Nets rebounded from their first two-game losing streak under P.J. Carlesimo.
Brook Lopez scored 16 points and Joe Johnson had 13 for the Nets, who tied a franchise record with their 11th victory in January and can break it when they host the NBA champion Miami Heat on Wednesday.
Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, who lost their sixth staight and 17th in their last 19. Their last two losses had each been by two points, but they were blown out of this one early.
