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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 27, 2009

Warriors shoot down Suns


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Golden State's Corey Maggette attempts a shot under Phoenix's Jason Richardson during the first half. Maggette was 13 of 17 from the field as the Warriors won for the first time since Dec. 9.

GEORGE NIKITIN | Associated Press

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OAKLAND, Calif. — Corey Maggette scored a season-high 33 points and had eight rebounds, Monta Ellis added 33 points and 10 assists and the Golden State Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns, 132-127, last night to end a seven-game skid.

Stephen Curry added 13 points, including two free throws with 3 seconds remaining, as Golden State outlasted Phoenix in a game that featured little defense from either team. Six players scored in double figures for the Warriors, who had lost 13 of 15 before ending a four-game losing streak to the Suns.

Steve Nash had 36 points and nine assists for Phoenix, but the veteran point guard missed a 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds left that would have tied the game. The Suns have lost seven straight road games.

Maggette went 13 of 17 from the floor and scored four points in the final 90 seconds, including a follow-up dunk that gave Golden State a 127-123 lead after Ellis missed a jumper.

After Nash scored on a driving layup, Maggette made two free throws to make it 129-125. Nash, who had 19 points in the third quarter, scored on another layup but Anthony Morrow made a free throw before Nash missed the 3-pointer.

Anthony Randolph had 17 points, while Morrow and C.J. Watson had 14 points apiece for Golden State, which hadn't won since beating New Jersey, 105-89, on Dec. 9.

Phoenix's Jason Richardson had 22 points against his former team while Amare Stoudamire had just nine points and seven rebounds before fouling out late.

Phoenix led 108-104 after three quarters but was outscored 17-8 to start the final period and couldn't catch up after that.

Phoenix beat Golden State, 123-101, when the teams played at US Airways Center on Oct. 30. Warriors coach Don Nelson had a full roster to work with in that first matchup but since then the team has traded disgruntled forward and former team captain Stephen Jackson to Charlotte, lost Kalenna Azubuike to a knee injury and has been without injured starting center Andris Biedrins.

LAKERS 112, KINGS 103

Kobe Bryant scored 38 points and visiting Los Angeles beat Sacramento in double overtime. After Lamar Odom opened the second overtime with a putback basket, Bryant connected on a pair of 3-pointers to put the Lakers in front 109-103 with 2:37 left. Los Angeles outscored the Kings 11-2 in the second OT. Beno Udrih scored 23 points for the Kings, who held the Lakers scoreless in the final 3:35 of the fourth quarter to force overtime.

MAVERICKS 106, GRIZZLIES 101

Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points over the first three quarters, then saw his teammates take control in the fourth to carry host Dallas over Memphis. Six other Mavericks scored in double figures, with Jason Terry scoring 14 of his 23 points in the fourth. He sealed the victory with four free throws in the final 20.6 seconds. Nowitzki was 0 for 2 in the final period.

BULLS 96, HORNETS 85

Tyrus Thomas returned from injury to score 21 points, Joakim Noah added 17 points and 18 rebounds, and host Chicago beat New Orleans. Thomas, back after missing 22 games with a broken left forearm, was active from the moment he entered to a nice ovation 3:09 into the game. He finished 10 for 17 from the floor and also had nine rebounds.

ROCKETS 98, NETS 93

Reserve Carl Landry scored 26 points as visiting Houston sent New Jersey to its ninth straight loss. Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks each had 17 points, while Trevor Ariza added 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Rockets won for the fourth time in the last five games.

HAWKS 110, PACERS 98

Al Horford had 25 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, leading visiting Atlanta past Indiana. Joe Johnson scored 24 points, and Josh Smith had 22 points and five blocks for the Hawks, who had dropped two of their last three games, all on the road.

THUNDER 98, BOBCATS 91

Kevin Durant scored 30 points, Russell Westbrook had 22 and host Oklahoma City held off Charlotte. Nenad Krstic added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who improved to 15-14. They didn't earn their 15th win last season until the 60th game, on March 2.

SPURS 112, BUCKS 97

Tim Duncan scored 26 points and visiting San Antonio beat Milwaukee. The Spurs opened a 20-point lead in the second quarter and Milwaukee never got within single digits in the second half. Tony Parker had 16 points and eight assists for San Antonio.

JAZZ 97, 76ERS 76

Deron Williams scored 27 points, Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and host Utah beat Philadelphia. The Jazz held the Sixers scoreless for nearly nine minutes late in the second half and used an 11-0 run during Philadelphia's drought to pull away and end a two-game losing streak.

TIMBERWOLVES 101, WIZARDS 89

Corey Brewer scored 23 of his career-high 27 points in the second half to lead host Minnesota over Washington. Kevin Love added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

NOTES

Rockets: Tracy McGrady was not with Houston when it played New Jersey last night, nor will he play today in Cleveland.

McGrady, who accompanied the team to New Jersey, was given permission to return home yesterday, said team spokesperson Tracey Hughes. He left before the Rockets' victory over the Nets.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said the team would wait until it returned to Houston after the weekend to consider any changes to the rotation.

McGrady has been unhappy with his diminished role. He has played sparingly in six games this season following microfracture surgery on his left knee in February.

Lakers: Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest suffered a concussion and injured his left elbow after falling at his home.

Artest didn't travel with the Lakers to yesterday's game at Sacramento after tripping over a box and falling down a flight of stairs at his home on Christmas night, the team said in a news release.

He was treated at UCLA Medical Center, undergoing a CT scan and receiving stitches in the back of his head and his elbow. A neurologist examined him yesterday and confirmed he had a concussion, the team said. Artest is day to day.