Warriors-Nets: Golden State Snaps 10-Game Losing Streak
Claiming their first win of the regular season on the road did not come easy.
The Golden State Warriors finally earned their first victory of the season against the New Jersey Nets, snapping a 10-game losing streak at the IZOD Center.
The Warriors, described as scrappy overachievers by Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle, implemented a familiar scheme but with an unfamiliar sense of confidence.
A victory on the road against a fairly experienced team with an all-around superstar couldn't be more satisfying for a squad that has a roster with an average age of 24 years.
22-year-old Warriors center and captain, Andris Biedrins, finished the night with 23 points and 14 rebounds in the win. Stephen Jackson tied Biedrins for team-high in scoring while dishing out eight assists.
Corey Maggette added 20 points and 10 rebounds. The muscular small forward had a huge rebounding game with two crucial boards in the end of the game. As usual, he converted four clutch free-throws with 43 seconds in regulation to formally kill all hopes of a Nets comeback.
The victory, however, formally arrived in the third quarter. The Warriors outscored the Nets 33-18 to take a commanding 85-69 lead heading into the final quarter of the game.
Up 14 points for most of the fourth quarter, the Warriors started drawing on their ability for ice-cold performances, allowing the Nets to cut the lead to seven points.
Captain Jack swished a three-pointer, but Maggette hit two clutch free throws to end the game.
The Warriors will be heading to Memphis to face the Grizzlies, with a a good chance of ending their three-game road trip with a winning record.
Briefly
C.J. Watson and DeMarcus Nelson performed on a very high level and certainly aided in the win.
Free-throw problems were quite evident with the Dubs' in tonight's game, as they shot 67 percent from the charity stripe.
Biedrins looked extremely sharp on the offensive and defensive ends.
Marcus Williams was benched for his third straight game this evening. Will he ever play? He's the only pure point guard on this team. The benching of Williams may strengthen the relationship between Robert Rowell and Don Nelson. Now, Chris Mullin is the one who landed Williams in Oakland. What does this suggest?
You might have heard, Al Harrington wants to be traded. Surprise surprise. Mullin absolutely loves Harrington, but the 6'9'' forward wants to bolt out of Oakland. Who's helping in that push? Rowell, of course.
