Red-hot Warriors trip up Sonics
OAKLAND, Calif. – Baron Davis will only look at the Warriors’ record since they dealt for him at the trading deadline.
Twelve wins in 19 games. Not bad for a team out of playoff contention long ago.
“It’s great to be in a situation where we want it,” Davis said. “I’ve always believed in my talents and ability to play in this league.”
Jason Richardson scored 22 points and Davis added 19 points and nine assists in Golden State’s fifth straight victory, 101-92 over the cold-shooting Seattle SuperSonics on Sunday.
“It’s like night and day,” Richardson said of his team’s transformation with Davis, a two-time All-Star point guard. “Guys are just working hard. We had a lot of close games before Baron got here, but now he’s here and it takes a lot of pressure off guys like myself.”
The playoff-bound Sonics missed a chance to clinch the franchise’s first division title since winning their third straight Pacific Division crown in 1997-98, getting outhustled on the boards and loose balls and outplayed on both ends.
Mike Dunleavy made three 3-pointers in the final 3:52 to finish with 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Warriors, winners of nine of their last 11.
Ray Allen had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Seattle. The reeling Sonics are trying to establish momentum to take into the playoffs despite their patchwork lineup.
Ronald Murray added 13 points and six rebounds and Antonio Daniels 13 points and five assists for the Sonics, who shot 34.5 percent from the field and got outrebounded 45-41.
“We’ve got to put this game behind us and move on,” Daniels said. “There’s no reason to overreact. We’ve had different guys out over the course of the season. That’s basketball. We’re going to have to deal with guys being out. We can’t blame it on that. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us.”
The Sonics have been forced to play a different style with their smaller rotation because of the injuries to forwards Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic.
Lewis underwent a bone scan on his injured right foot that showed he doesn’t have a broken bone. He will undergo another test today that looks even deeper at the injury.
Seattle’s Damien Wilkins (six points) failed to score in double figures for the first time in four games.