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Davis, Warriors handle lowly Timberwolves

Jan 16, 2008 - 5:10 AM By Peter Kapsner PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Baron Davis had 22 points and nine assists and Stephen Jackson scored 21 as the Golden State Warriors posted a 105-98 victory over the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

Speedy Monta Ellis poured in 17 points and Al Harrington added 12 off the bench as the Warriors opened their four-game road trip on a positive note.

"We're playing at enough (of a) level to win games," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "That's for sure. I don't know if we can be better, we're playing pretty well."

"This was a game we definitely needed to win," Harrington said. "The team was struggling coming in, and we had to not take them for granted, we had to play our basketball, and we did that."

After trading baskets for most of the first quarter, Golden State exploded with a commanding 17-4 surge late in the second quarter to take a 56-44 halftime lead.

"I think in the second quarter, right before the half, we kind of had a chance," Minnesota forward Antoine Walker said. "We tried to keep it at a four-point lead, but we let them get on a run."

And unlike the last time these two teams met on December 26, when the Timberwolves rallied back from a 22-point deficit to nearly win, the Warriors made sure they shut the door in this one.

In the third, Davis ripped Minnesota apart for 14 points en route to helping Golden State extend its lead to an impressive 83-66 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Unable to put together even back-to-back wins this season, Minnesota has fallen to a league-worst 5-32 and could threaten the 9-73 mark set by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.

Walker led the way with 26 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for Minnesota, which shot 45 percent (37-of-83) from the field.

"We're making tough decisions, if you've got a tough pass, you've got to make the extra one," Minnesota coach Randy Wittman said. "Throw it over and then throw it in. But we try to split the seams."

Al Jefferson continues to be the main bright spot for the rebuilding Timberwolves as he recorded his 27th double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.