Monta Ellis scored 38 points on 15-30 shooting, but it wasn't enough as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Golden State Warriors 101-95 at the AT&T Center. Ellis also had seven assists and hit 4-8 three-pointers for a really solid game; his matchup James Anderson scored just five points in limited minutes.
Warriors Vs. Spurs: Monta Ellis’ 38 Not Enough As Golden State Falls 101-95
The San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Golden State Warriors 101-96 despite a huge night from Monta Ellis.
The Spurs were led by Tony Parker (21 points, eight assists), but used a balanced effort to tease out enough offense for the win. The Warriors didn't get much offense outside of Ellis and Stephen Curry, who dropped 20 points on 7-11 shooting in 30 minutes with eight assists. (Why just 30 minutes? Would you be surprised to learn it was Curry's ankle? No? Didn't think so.) The Warriors won just five offensive rebounds in 41 opportunities.
Matthew Tynan of Pounding The Rock notes that it was an unconventional lineup that ended up helping the Spurs pull away in the fourth quarter.
The trio of T.J. Ford, Danny Green and Richard Jefferson played the entire fourth quarter. Timmy and Tony joined them later in the frame to form a small-ball lineup that was finally able to handle a young, small, active Warriors attack.
With Manu out, it's natural to expect the other members of San Antonio's Big 3 to step up in crunch time, and they did. Tony Parker's step-back jumper, which had been inconsistent all night, finally started to fall along with his floater as he scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth, and Duncan seemed energized on the defensive end with two vintage rejections and six boards in the final quarter.
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