Recap: LA Clippers vs. Golden State
Sports Network | November 15, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - In his first career start, undrafted rookie Anthony Morrow tallied 37 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 121-103 victory over the hapless Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.
Morrow, who didn't appear in the team's first six games and played a total of 40 minutes in the last three, hadn't scored more than eight points in any game this season. He logged just under 42 minutes Saturday and shot 15-of-20 from the field.
"I was going to go to Ukraine (to play basketball)," Morrow said of being undrafted. "But Golden State gave me a chance. I didn't know I was going to start until this morning. I caught fire today. My teammates have been so supportive of me. I never lost my faith."
Stephen Jackson scored 20 points and dished out 10 assists for the Warriors, who have won two of three. Andris Biedrins recorded a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Corey Maggette added 17 points in his first game since departing the Clippers organization in the offseason.
Baron Davis led the Clippers with 25 points and 11 assists in his first game against the Warriors since leaving Golden State, and Cuttino Mobley scored 19 points for Los Angeles, which has dropped eight of nine to open the season. Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby each had a double-double, as Kaman had 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Camby recorded 12 points and 11 boards.
"We had a slow start and fought our way back into it," Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We settled for too many outside shots instead of attacking. Morrow burned us, making 15-of-20 (shots), (and) that was the difference."
The Warriors jumped out to an early 13-2 lead in the first few minutes. Five different players scored to build up the 11-point lead, as Jackson and Maggette paced Golden State with eight points apiece in the first. Mobley had 13 for LA, but the Warriors led, 36-31, after the period.
Morrow led all scorers in the second with 11 and was the top scorer in the first half with 18. The offense slowed down considerably in the quarter, and Golden State took a 58-50 advantage to the break.
"(Morrow) got his opportunity today," Warriors head coach Don Nelson said. "I'm so proud of him and so happy. Every time I called his number he made the shot."
Al Thornton's dunk 3 1/2 minutes into the third capped a 10-0 run for the Clippers that tied the game at 62. But the Warriors used a late 17-7 run in the period to take a 90-83 lead into the final quarter.
Los Angeles came to within five early in the fourth on a pair of Thornton free throws, but the Warriors scored the next eight points to take a 98-85 advantage. Morrow capped off the run with a three-point play in the paint with just over eight minutes to play.
The Clippers couldn't come closer than nine the rest of the way, and Golden State cruised to the victory.
Morrow, a guard, averaged 14.3 points in 32 games last season for Georgia Tech. His point total Saturday is the highest single-game total for any Golden State player this season as well as any rookie. His career-high for the Yellow Jackets was 31. It also marks the most points in one game for any undrafted rookie since the two-round draft system was instituted in 1989..The Clippers are already 0-4 in divisional play...The Warriors have beaten the Clips four consecutive times...Morrow made 4-of-5 from long distance...Thornton had 11 points...Golden State's Kelenna Azubuike had 15 points, while C.J. Watson posted 10 points and eight assists.
