Monta Ellis sparkles as the Warriors edge past the Pacers 110-108
Hitting a mix of tenacious shots, hooks and turnaround jumpers - Monta Ellis registered a game-high 36 points to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Indiana Pacers 110-108 on Wednesday night at ORACLE Arena. Ellis also had six assists and five rebounds
for the Warriors.
Warriors coach Keith Smart appreciated the breath-taking performance from Ellis. He said, "If you're looking at the All-Star break, and saying, we’re going to showcase the guys that are playing the best basketball at this particular time of the year. He
(Ellis) is one of the guys that are playing very, very good basketball right now. He's done that all year."
Dorell Wright and David Lee finished with 21 points apiece in the victory. Lee also added nine boards for the Warriors, who have won three in a row for the second time in the 2010-11 season.
Danny Granger had 32 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Pacers, but also committed seven turnovers - including a huge one in the crucial final minute. Tyler Hansbrough returned to the line-up and contributed 16 points and five boards for the Pacers,
who have dropped their last three games.
Match Analysis
Ellis crossed Brandon Rush from about 18 feet away and drilled a game-winning jumper with just 0.6 seconds left in the game, to give the Warriors a decisive lead. Both teams started the contest with the same energy level. However, the Pacers held a 29-28
lead at the end of the opening quarter.
Indiana got it going offensively in the second quarter, and took a 58-53 advantage into the half time break. Ellis went off for 16 points in the second quarter alone, shooting 7-for-9 from the field. Ellis hit a jumper with four minutes to go in the third
to give the Warriors a 77-69 advantage. Indiana then responded with a 12-0 run as two free throws from Paul George gave the team an 81-77 advantage.
The Warriors played some nice shots in the third quarter overall to cut the deficit, but the Pacers managed to maintain an 83-81 lead heading into the final stanza. The Warriors scored a season-high 34 fast-break points against the Pacers. Many of those
points were generated off the Pacers 20 turnovers.
Indiana coach Jim O’Brien said after the game, "We lost the game because of turnovers tonight. Granger and Ellis both had great games out there tonight and Ellis' shot was big, but turnovers lost the game for us."
The Warriors controlled every aspect of the fourth quarter - limiting turnovers, making shots, and playing tenacious defence. Lee made two from the free-throw line and an Ellis bucket tied the game at 105 with two minutes to play.
The score was once again tied at 108 with just six seconds to go. That was when Ellis came up with the game-winning shot to seal victory over the Pacers. An ecstatic Ellis said after the game, "I was concentrating to knock it down. Coach wanted me to have
the last shot, so I took it and it went in. Good game for us tonight."
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