Ellis Scores 25, Warriors Defeat Wizards In Rout
WASHINGTON (CBS / AP) -- Monta Ellis scored 25 points and Klay Thompson added 18 to lead the Golden State Warriors in a 120-100 rout of the Washington Wizards on Monday night.
David Lee had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State, which had six players in double figures.
Ellis was 10 for 16 from the floor and didn't play at all in the fourth quarter as both teams rested their starters. The Warriors ended their six-game road trip with a 3-3 record.
It was Golden State's highest-scoring game since beating Toronto 138-100 on March 25, 2011.
Nick Young scored 25 points, 15 in the fourth quarter, and John Wall had 20 points and 14 assists for Washington, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.
The Warriors never trailed and jumped out to a big lead early. Ellis hit a running 3-pointer at the first quarter buzzer to put Golden State ahead 41-24. The Warriors shot 71.4 percent from the field in the quarter, and were 5 of 6 from 3-point range. It was Golden State's highest-scoring quarter this season, and the most points the Wizards have allowed in a quarter.
It never got better for Washington. The Warriors extended the lead, going on a 19-2 run that started late in the opening quarter and into the second to make the lead 48-24.
Golden State led by as many as 25 in the second quarter before Washington started to respond. The Wizards managed a 16-5 run late in the second and cut the lead to 65-51 at halftime.
The Warriors had run into problems in the second half their previous two games. Golden State scored a then season-low 36 second-half points in a 105-83 loss at Philadelphia Friday. The Warriors had an even worse showing Sunday at Toronto, scoring 28 points in the second half and losing 83-75 despite taking a nine-point halftime lead.
Ellis made sure Golden State didn't have another second-half collapse, scoring 10 of the Warriors' 24 points in the third quarter and ensuring Washington never built momentum for a comeback.
Golden State led 89-71 at the start of the fourth quarter. Both teams looked like they were on cruise-control for the final period with most of the starters on the bench.
NOTES: Warriors G Stephen Curry (strained tendon in his right foot) had his first significant playing time in five games, scoring 12 points in nine minutes. Curry had played just 3 seconds in the previous four games. ... Wizards G Nick Young (bruised right knee) returned after missing Saturday's game. ... It was Wall's third double-double in five games. .... It was the 100th win of the series for the Warriors. Golden State is 100-80 all-time against Washington.
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