Week #17
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l 2-0 @ home l 1-0 on road l 3-0 overall l No Injuries l
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(44-9)--------------------------(27-25)
Box Score
Warriors: 106
Utah: 99
Warriors survive Jazz Scare
Davis' and-1 over Williams, puts them up 102-91
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Salt Lake City, UT. (AP Press) -- Mission Accomplished.
The Warriors coming off a disappointing loss right before the All-Star were facing their arch-nemesis, the Utah Jazz and their hostile mor(m)on crowd. Some one would say it would be a great test to the Warriors' strength if they could manage to defeat their new rivals. Check. Mark it down as victory number 45.
Golden State's star-studded backcourt of Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas pushed the Warriors to a new level taking a 13 point lead entering the 4th. Davis had 31 points and a game high 14 assists in the game and Arenas finished with a game high 35. Davis also nearly had a triple double, falling one rebound short.
The Jazz did not go down without a fight however. They began the quarter on a 8-0 run, capped off by Andrei Kirilenko, whose dunk brought his team within 86-81. Don Nelson was forced to call a timeout, and after the stoppage in play, Davis found a wide open Arenas on the wing, who drained a 3-pointer to silence the crowd.
The game seemed to be completely in Golden State's hand when Davis pumped faked counter-part Deron Williams, dunked it and drew the foul (see picture). His free throw put the Warriors up 102-91. However, on the next possession, Mehmet Okur hit a tought 3-pointer from the top of the key over Al Harrington AND Arenas (see picture below). The Warriors' starting small forward,Stephen Jackson, tried inbounding the ball directly to Arenas, since Arenas is the team's best foul shooter, but Carlos Boozer stole the ball and jammed it home to make 102-96. Davis then was fouled intentionally, but he clanged both free throws, and Williams raced up the court to hit another difficult 3-pointer over Davis drawing the Jazz within 102-99. However, Arenas closed out the game with 4 straight free throws, putting the Jazz's miracle hopes to rest.
Williams finished with 23 points and 11 assists, matching up nicely with Davis. Kirilenko had a team high 27 points, but shot just 2-10 from 3-point range. Many of his long bombs ignited Warrior fast breaks, and coach Jerry Sloan was furious with Kirilenko's shot selection after the game.
"I don't care if he had 27 points, he cost us the game!" Sloan yelled at reporters. "He's not a 3-point shooter, what was he thinking?!? 2-10, get the message buddy, stop chucking them up!"
Kirilenko declined to speak to reporters after the game.
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(24-28)-------------------------(45-9)
Box Score
Warriors: 98
Boston: 95
Warriors sweep Celtics

Pierce couldn't do it alone
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Oakland, CA. (AP Press) -- The big 3 was faltering. Kevin Garnett was shooting 3-13, and Ray Allen had just 14 points, and 4 fouls through the 1st 3 quarters. Paul Pierce was forced to carry the load, but unfortunately for him and the Boston Celtics, the Golden State Warriors were just too deep.
With both teams' starters exhausted, the Warriors proved how important depth was, especially when the stars aren't on. Coach Don Nelson rested almost his starters to begin the 4th despite holding onto just a 3-point lead, and his gamble paid off. With a lineup of Gary Payton, rookies Marco Belinelli and Brandon Wright, Mickeal Pietrus and lone starter Al Harrington the Warriors held off Pierce and the Celtics, taking the game 98-95 in Oakland.
Pietrus, Belinelli and Harrington all had 9 points, Wright had 7 rebounds, and Payton dictated the tempo. When starters Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas returned, the Warriors took control, despite the final score not reflecting it. Davis had 16 points and 5 assists, while Arenas finished with a game high 32 points.
More importantly it was the Warriors' defense that won them this game. Holding superstar Garnett to just 3-14 shooting, including a key blocked dunk by Harrington late in the 4th, and getting Ray Allen to foul out, the only star Celtic the Warriors didn't control was Pierce. Pierce exploded for a team high 29 points, including an amazing stretch where he scored 12 points in a row for his team. He shot 11-20 from the field, including 5-9 from 3-point range.
"Overall, I'm pretty pleased with our team's effort. We can afford to let one of the three to go off (Pierce) and win the game. If they all have big games, then their scary. Holding Garnett to 8 points is very impressive. He seemed completely out of it, and he didn't even start the final period even when the Celtics so desperately needed the real him to appear," said Nelson.
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@ 
(24-32)-------------------------(46-9)
Box Score
Warriors: 109
Atlanta: 85
Warriors Blow Out Hawks, Win 3rd in a Row

Even Taylor got in on the fun
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Oakland, CA. (AP Press) -- Playing without the injured Joe Johnson, the outcome of the game was predictable. The Golden State Warriors easily took care of the visiting Atlanta Hawks controlling the game, and taking an unchallenged victory.
Led by Gilbert Arenas who torched Johnson's replacement, and former Pac-10 player, Salim Stoudamire, the Warriors grabbed an 18 point lead heading into the final quarter. By this point Arenas had an amazing 40 points, on 15-22 shooting, and 8-13 from long range. He also added 5 rebounds and 3 assists. When it rains, it pours, and this saying could have not been more true tonight. Every Warrior player scored, down to 12th man, Maurice Taylor. No Golden State Player came close to matching Arenas' outbust, but Baron Davis had 11 points and 5 assists, and Marco Belinelli had 12.
"Mayne, Joe's long arms usually distract me a bit, but with a 6'1 defender on me.. C'mon! I knew this was going to happen once I saw the injury report," said Arenas.
Rising star Josh Smith was the only bright spot for the Hawks, leading them with 29 points, and collecting 9 rebounds. However, without Johnson, the Hawks had no chance to win, as no one provided any help for Smith. Former Warrior Speedy Claxton had 13 points and 6 assists, but also had an unacceptable 6 turnovers. Ex-Bay Area Native, Josh Childress, barely even played, logging just 10 minutes and scored 0 points on 0-2 shooting, letting down about a 100 fans or so.
"The Warriors are legit son, I ain't able to beat them myself, we need JJ back now, for real," said Smith. "How can we beat them, when we can't stop any of them from scoring, thats just pathetic."
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Current Playoff Matchupsl
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Power Rankings
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Rookie Watch

Marco Belinelli: 15.0 ppg l 2.9 rpg l 2.6 apg l 18.47 mpg l

Brandan Wright: 6.1 ppg l 4.8 rpg l 1.3 apg l 20.61 mpg l
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Weekly Transactions
None! (Trade Deadline passed)
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League Leaders
D. Nowitzki 43.1ppg
C. Bosh 39.7 ppg
K. Bryant 38.8 ppg
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T. Duncan 7.7 rpg
S. O'Neal 6.6 rpg
Y. Ming 6.6 ppg
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B. Davis 1.71 spg
G. Arenas 0.87 spg
K. Bryant 0.86 spg
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A. Miller 6.9 apg
T. Duncan 6.8 apg
B. Davis 6.5 apg
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Injuries

l Joe Johnson l unplayable l back spasms l 5 days l

l Shawn Marion l unplayable l sprained toe l 3 weeks l

l Al Thorton l unplayable l torn achilles tendon l 5 weeks l