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Thursday, Dec. 23 10:00pm ET
Loss to Blazers adds to Warriors' woes | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The ailing Golden State Warriors are on yet another losing streak, and their coach's job is again on the line. But they didn't get any sympathy from the Portland Trail Blazers. Rasheed Wallace scored 20 points and Steve Smith had 19 as the Blazers routed the slumping Warriors 111-91 on Thursday night. "We understand it wasn't a big challenge for us tonight, but we also wanted to come out and have a good game on our part," Portland's Scottie Pippen said. "You can't feel sorry for them." John Starks and Donyell Marshall each 18 points for the Warriors, who have lost four of five following a three-game winning streak. The loss is sure to add to speculation that Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo will soon be fired and replaced by general manager Garry St. Jean. Carlesimo might have saved his job with recent victories over Minnesota, Miami and Sacramento, but the rumor mill started whirring again after the Warriors lost twice to the Los Angeles Clippers inside a week. "I'm more satisfied with our team's performance tonight, if you can believe that," Carlesimo said, referring to Monday night's 103-99 loss to the Clippers. "Don't get me wrong -- I'm not happy with a 20-point loss, but we were much more of a basketball team than we were Monday night." Carlesimo used his 13th different starting lineup of the season Thursday night, but with regulars Terry Cummings and Mookie Blaylock out, and Marshall, Adonal Foyle and Antawn Jamison slowed by minor injuries, the Warriors didn't stand a chance against the experienced Blazers. Portland led by 17 at halftime and put the game away early in the third, when four Blazers hit jumpers to make it 64-41 with just under eight minutes left. "We didn't come out with the type of energy you need to play an NBA team like the Portland Trail Blazers," Starks said. "We have to get it together. Once we come out and play with a lot of energy, it shows." Damon Stoudamire added 12 points and seven assists, and Brian Grant had 12 points for the Blazers, who have won two straight following their first two-game losing streak of the season. Portland drew within two games of the first-place Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference. "We needed this game," said Grant, who is slowly getting back in shape after recovering from surgery on his left knee in July. "We needed to win in this fashion to build our confidence up. I think tonight we were a whole lot tougher than we've been in the past." Golden State hit its first three shots of the game, but then missed 12 of 13 and trailed 20-9 before Starks hit three straight shots to help the Warriors pull to 25-18 after one quarter. In the second period, the Warriors were reduced to having Marshall as their first option on offense. He scored the team's last eight points of the half, and the Blazers increased their lead from 12 with 4:10 left to 54-37 at halftime. Pippen and Smith hit consecutive 3-pointers, and Pippen added a free throw to make it 65-41. Portland led by as many as 29 in the quarter. "I think that took away their spirit," Smith said. Golden State shot 42 percent and launched seven airballs. Game notesFoyle, bothered by a strained right ankle, injured the ankle with 2:38 to go in the third and did not return. He finished with two points. ... Jamison, who shot just 5-for-14 with 12 points Wednesday night after missing four games with an injured left hip, did not start and finished with six points on 3-of-10 shooting. ... Bonzi Wells, playing his first significant minutes for the Blazers since spraining his left knee Nov. 20 at Charlotte, had five points and six fouls in 16 minutes. ... The Warriors are 3-10 at home and on the road. ... Golden State is 0-20 when trailing after three quarters. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Golden State Clubhouse Portland Clubhouse RECAPS Atlanta 108 Cleveland 90
Portland 111
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