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Ross notches career high as Clippers top undermanned Warriors

Jan 18, 2007 - 7:47 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Quinton Ross had his way with the undermanned Golden State Warriors.

Ross scored a career-high 24 points and Sam Cassell added 23 and 13 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers used a balanced attack en route to a 115-109 victory over the Warriors to snap a two-game losing streak.

Elton Brand collected 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who dished out a season-high 37 assists in one of their most complete performances of the season.

"It was great. Twenty-one assists in the first half off of 24 baskets," Los Angeles coach Mike Dunleavy said. "I thought we moved the ball a little easier in the first half and because of that we got rhythm shots. Our guys moved into 17, 18 feet for open shots due to good passing to the open man."

Despite a different roster on Wednesday, Brand said the Clippers were able to take something from the Monday's contest between the two squads, a 108-93 Warriors win.

"We were watching a lot of tape since we didn't get a chance to prepare for them the first time," Brand said. "It was Martin Luther King Day and we didn't have a shootaround (prior to Monday's game). Whether they were shorthanded or not, we needed this win."

In a huge eight-player deal Wednesday, Golden State acquired scorers Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson from Indiana for forwards Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy Jr. The deal also sent guard Sarunas Jasikevicius and forward Josh Powell to the Warriors, with forward Ike Diogu and guard Keith McLeod coming to the Pacers.

"This was a game we had to get through and we knew our chances weren't very good to win the game, but we thought we would give it our best," Golden State coach Don Nelson said. "Our mentality was, if you've got shots, shoot them, play together and have some fun. But we are really excited about (Thursday's) practice and the one after that when we'll have everybody."

As a result, Golden State dressed just the mandatory eight players but played only seven because center Adonal Foyle is sidelined with a right ankle sprain.

Averaging just 5.7 points per game entering Wednesday's contest, Ross took advantage of the Warriors' depleted roster, shooting 11-of-19 from the field. Known for his tenacious defense, he shadowed Golden State's lightning quick guards Monta Ellis and Baron Davis, but made his biggest impact on the offensive end.

"I just came out and played hard and tried to be aggressive," Ross said. "I got some very good looks early and I just knocked them down."

Dunleavy pointed to Ross and Cuttino Mobley, who had 20 points and eight rebounds, as key contributors in the win.

"I thought Ross was spectacular at both ends of the floor, and I thought Cat (Mobley) down the stretch was great coming up with boards and making big shots from the free throw line," Dunleavy said.

Los Angeles took its largest lead, 85-62, with 6:49 left in the third quarter, but Golden State battled back. Despite being shorthanded, the Warriors cut the deficit to 105-100 on Matt Barnes' layup with 3:46 remaining but would not get any closer.

Ellis and rookie Kelenna Azubuike scored 28 points apiece for Golden State, which shot 45 percent (35-of-80).