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Davis, Ellis help Warriors edge Nets

Jan 25, 2008 - 7:59 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Baron Davis had a triple-double and Monta Ellis poured in a career-high 39 points as the Golden State Warriors outlasted the New Jersey Nets, 121-119, on Thursday night.

Even a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter wasn't going to keep Ellis and the Warriors from bouncing back from a lackluster setback to lowly Minnesota.

"It's the NBA, anything can happen," Ellis said. "We've got great players on their team just like they do, and when we went on our run, they didn't go anywhere because they've got great players on their team. We just got one or two stops at the end and won the game."

"They're a proud bunch of guys and they fought back and made it a very tight ballgame," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "Monta (had) a career high, what can you say about the kid - he made all his free throws down the stretch. Energy was good and we just barely had enough, so we'll take the win and move on."

Al Harrington made four consecutive shots in the fourth quarter. He opened the period with a 3-pointer to cut the Nets' lead to five points. Two more 3-pointers by Davis and Harrington made it a three-point game. Harrington also made a jumper to get the Warriors within 94-93.

Harrington continued his red-hot shooting with a step-back 3-pointer and Ellis added a mid-range jumper to give the Warriors a six-point lead following a 15-0 run that got the crowd on its feet.

"The game is funny sometimes," Harrington said. "Tonight was one of those nights where I'm happy (Nelson) kept his confidence in me. My shot didn't feel as good as it usually does when I shoot the ball. I think it's because I was wearing one of those neoprene sleeves. In the fourth quarter, I took it off and was going to tough it out."

Harrington also gave a lot of credit to Warriors assistant Keith Smart for not giving up on him.

"Keith saved this game, not only for the team but for me," Harrington said. "I was sitting and talking to him and he kept pumping confidence in me and (without that), I don't know if I would've had that fourth quarter - so I dedicated that fourth quarter to Keith Smart."

Golden State's impressive 22-0 burst finally came to an end when Harrington made another 3-pointer for a 107-95 advantage with 7:09 remaining.

But the Nets responded with a run of their own. Jason Kidd fed Richard Jefferson for a jam to finish a 15-2 burst, tying the game at 109-109 at the 2:24 mark.

"We were up eight points to down 13 points," Jefferson said. "It was faster than anything I've ever seen. I think it was streakiness by both teams. You just have to stick with it. They were up by 10, but they're going to give us a chance to get back in the game. We just weren't able to do it."

After two free throws by Ellis, the Nets regained the lead on Antoine Wright's 3-pointer from the right baseline and Josh Boone's tip-in with 1:23 left.

But Davis' layup with 25 seconds to go completed a 6-0 surge to give Golden State the lead for good at 117-114. Davis finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists - his second of the season.

"If we win, it means I did my job. I think I need to try not so much to try and get them but play more like that, rebounding the ball and starting the fast break," Davis said. "Every time I can get a rebound, I can push it ahead and it usually translates to an assist on the other end. For me, rebounding the basketball is key from the point guard position because we play small."

Jefferson scored 34 points, Vince Carter added 29 points and Boone contributed 21 points and 17 rebounds for the Nets, who dropped their seventh straight game.

"I think its important we responded with a fight, but the objective is to win the game obviously," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "We did show some fight, and if you're going to look for a positive, that's one of them."