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Ellis leads Warriors past Timberwolves

Mar 17, 2007 - 7:53 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- When the Golden State Warriors needed to maintain playoff positioning, they looked to reserve Monta Ellis.

Ellis scored 24 and Baron Davis added 15 as the Warriors posted a 106-86 blowout victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have dropped their last nine road games.

Stephen Jackson had 15 points and Jason Richardson added 14 and seven rebounds for Golden State (31-36), which tied the Los Angeles Clippers (30-35) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Clippers were winners earlier Friday, posting a 103-92 victory at Charlotte.

"We're trying to make this playoff push and every time we step up our defense we win games," Ellis said. "We're just trying to do whatever it takes to win ball games."

Ellis was 11-of-18 from the floor for the Warriors, who have won four straight, five of six, and nine of their last 11 here.

"We are just playing at a high level," Davis said. "The main thing is, you see the team camaraderie, you see that support for one another, and that's translating on the defensive end."

Fellow reserve Mikael Pietrus had 13 points, all in the second quarter, when the Warriors turned a four-point advantage entering the period into a 56-43 halftime advantage. Pietrus was 3-of-3 from the arc.

"I was very pleased with the defense tonight," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "We had very active hands, putting our hands on the ball 37 times. I thought we were sharp in our double-teams, especially when we changed the timing of them."

Rookie Randy Foye scored 20 points, converting all 14 of his free throws, and All-Star Kevin Garnett added 19 and 13 rebounds for the Wolves, who fell 1 1/2 games behind the Warriors and the Clippers.

"It was a really tough loss," Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett said. "In order for us to get that eighth spot, we're going to have to beat this team, bar none."

Minnesota was also done in by 24 turnovers, which Golden State turned into 20 fast-break points.

"The Warriors initiate points off turnovers," Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said. "They lead the league in fast-break points as it is, if you don't turn it over you can contain that number a little bit. But when give them 24 turnovers they are going to convert those."