Lee Scores 29, Warriors Defeat Cavs
CLEVELAND (CBS / AP) -- David Lee scored a season-high 29 points -- 13 in the fourth quarter—and Nate Robinson added 17 points, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 105-95 win Tuesday night over the road-worn Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lee scored 7 straight points midway through the final period to help the Warriors pull away from the Cavs, who were coming off a seven-game road trip.
Golden State's Monta Ellis had to be helped from the floor bleeding in the final minute with a cut on his face. He was accidentally struck by an elbow from Cleveland's Anderson Varejao. Ellis finished with 10 points -- 13 below his average.
Antawn Jamison scored 19 and rookie Kyrie Irving had 18 for Cleveland, which committed a season-high 25 turnovers and dragged at both ends of the floor.
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Robinson added 10 assists, rookie Klay Thompson made all four 3-pointers and scored 14 and Brandon Rush added 14 for Golden State.
Ellis was only 2 of 12 from the floor, but his teammates picked up the scoring slack. Rush came off the bench and scored six straight late in the third when Golden State coach Mark Jackson turned to his reserves, who gave the Warriors a two-point lead entering the fourth.
Andris Biedrins had 11 rebounds for the Warriors, who have two straight road wins for the first time since Nov. 8-10, 2010.
The Warriors trailed 87-85 early in the fourth when Lee went to work.
The 6-foot-9 forward scored on a pair of layups, dropped a free throw and then drilled a short jumper from the wing to put Golden State ahead 92-87 with 5:54 left.
Cleveland was only down by five, but it seemed like 15.
The Cavs looked tired, mentally and physically, from their cross-country trip. Cleveland played at Charlotte on Monday and dropped to 0-3 this season in back-to-back games.
Irving made two free throws to get the Cavs to 96-93, but Ellis hit a free throw, and after Irving missed a jumper, Lee's bucket made it 99-93 and Cleveland never got closer.
In the final minute, Ellis was playing defense on the left side when he was nailed by Varejao's arm and dropped to the floor. As he was being attended by Golden State's trainers, Robinson had a few words for Varejao, who tried to explain it was an accident.
The Warriors were again without guard Stephen Curry, who missed his seventh straight game with a sprained right ankle. Golden State is 3-4 without its third-leading scorer.
Jamison scored 10 points in the first six minutes of the third quarter, helping the Cavs overcome a seven-point deficit and take a 70-65 lead. But Cleveland couldn't keep it going and the Warriors battled back, getting three straight baskets from Rush to pull even at 74-74.
With the Cavs fighting to find their bearings back at home, the Warriors went on a 15-1 run in the first half to take a 52-40 lead.
Notes: Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert turned 50 Tuesday and gave himself an indoor football team as a present. Gilbert bought the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena League for an undisclosed sum, adding to a sports portfolio that includes the Cavs, Canton Charge of the NBA's Development League and the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League. ... Golden State coach Mark Jackson said Curry's ankle has improved and the guard is moving toward a return to the floor. "He's getting closer," Jackson said. "But we want to be smart. We want him for the long haul." ... The Cavs were without starting G Anthony Parker because of a sore lower back. Parker, who had started the Cavs' first 12 games, is not expected to miss much time.
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