Klay Thompson continues to ease the pain of disgruntled Warriors fans over the trade exodus of Monta Ellis.

Thompson, the rookie out of Washington State, delivered another strong performance as Ellis’ replacement at shooting guard with his latest career-high — 31 points in a 111-108 victory Saturday over the Sacramento Kings at Oracle Arena.

But as impressive as his scoring was early — 21 first-half points on 7-of-10 shooting — it was Thompson’s all-around game late that helped the Warriors salvage a win after losing another point guard, this time Nate Robinson late in the first half.

As the Kings tried to clamp down defensively on Thompson late in the game, he surrendered his shooting and instead

moved the ball. Both he and fellow rookie Charles Jenkins were big contributors to David Lee’s near triple-double of 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.

“(Thompson) made the adjustments,” Lee said. “He was killing them on the curl cuts all night, coming off and shooting jumpers. But late, he made a couple great drop-down passes to me, and there would have been another had I rolled on it. He’s turned into a complete player.”

Thompson played 42 minutes and came within one point of the rookie high for scoring in a game this year. He has now scored in double figures in 12 straight games and is averaging nearly 18 points a game in nine starts.

“The guy’s a heck of a player,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. “He’s a

prototypical shooting guard — he’s great at coming off screens, unselfish. I thought he was very aggressive taking high-percentage shots, and he battled. I thought he played an outstanding game, and it’s scary to think he’s only going to get better.”

About the only thing Thompson didn’t have much to do with was the sloppy outcome in the final two minutes. Lee scored underneath the basket to give Golden State a 109-106 lead with 1:23 to go, but the Kings’ Isaiah Thomas answered with a driving

layup with 42 seconds left.

The Warriors appeared to have control of the game when they gained possession with 15.6 seconds left, but Lee was called for a five-second violation on an inbounds. Sacramento had a chance for the game-winning shot but never got it off.

Pressured by Lee, Thomas inexplicably dribbled the ball off his leg and out of bounds with 4.7 seconds left to allow Golden State to escape.

“I just tried to switch on a pick-and-roll, and my plan was just to keep him in front,” Lee said. “He tried to cross over and lost the ball. The biggest thing I was trying to do was make him shoot a contested jump shot and not let him get by me.”

It worked. The Warriors inbounded the ball, and Lee tossed a long pass

to Richard Jefferson for a game-closing dunk. As the first game in a stretch where Golden State will play four games in five days, it should provide a little inspirational juice.

Thompson, to be sure, is providing inspiration however he can, especially with Ellis gone and point guard Stephen Curry out indefinitely with an ankle injury.

“With Steph out of the lineup, our scoring took a big hit so we just have to do it collectively,” Thompson said. “I’m just trying to play my game and stay real aggressive, because I’ve got to score and be a threat out there. When I’m a threat, it opens up opportunities for everybody.”

One thing’s certain: Thompson doesn’t lack for confidence and isn’t afraid to say so.

“It’s always going

to be high, because if you want to succeed in this league, you’ve got to be confident,” he said. “You have to act like you belong out there.”

The Warriors built as much as a 13-point lead behind Thompson in an opening half they pretty well controlled from the outset. But with 1:02 left in the second quarter, Robinson went down in a heap under the Kings basket with a strained right hamstring and did not return.

Jackson went to an all-rookie backcourt, getting 24 solid minutes from Jenkins and even asking swingman Dominic McGuire to play the point for a brief stretch.

The rarity of it isn’t lost on Klay Thompson. The Golden State Warriors rookie took 24 shots in Wednesday’s 101-92 win over the host New Orleans Hornets.

Sure, he made only 11, which isn’t a percentage worth bragging about. But the bigger point is he got to take 24 shots. Dorell Wright hasn’t taken 20 in a game this season. Stephen Curry, though he’s played only 26 games, tops out at 21. David Lee, a seventh-year vet, has taken that many shots just five times – in his career.

“As a rookie, to put up 24 shots is really rare,” said Thompson, who set a career high with 27 points. “I’m really thankful Coach (Mark) Jackson has the confidence in me to let me take those shots and play my game.”

The Warriors have no doubt shown confidence in Thompson, anointing him the successor to guard Monta Ellis, the team’s star shooting guard for years before being dealt to Milwaukee on March 13. But it’s already obvious why Golden State is willing to stake its future on the rookie.

In the six games since the Ellis trade, Thompson is averaging 20 points in 37 minutes. He’s shooting 40.9 percent in those games, but that’s probably more because he’s working on his repertoire and learning how to be a reliable scorer.

The fact that he’s taken 24 shots – and no one on the team is griping about it – is a sign of his potential as a scorer.

“It’s a gift to be able to get shots,” Jackson said. “If I went out there and took 24 shots, you would say I was being selfish and chucking up shots from all over the place. His shots are coming off down screens, getting air space, him making plays, ball reversals. I don’t really recall a bad shot by him. Crazy thing is I recall him turning down a shot or two. He just has a gift to be able to get open, take and make shots.”

Thompson scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Warriors created some cushion. One stretch showed the versatility that has Warriors’ management drooling.

He knocked a couple midrange jumpers early in the quarter. But with the Warriors down 58-54, he started an 11-4 run with a 3-pointer. Moments later, he converted a three-point play on fast-break layup he created by picking off a pass from Hornets forward Trevor Ariza. After his free throw, the Warriors led 60-58.

The Warriors’ next two baskets, a 3-pointer by Rush and a dunk by Lee, were set up by Thompson – who tied his career-high with five assists.

After that, Lee took over. He scored eight points in just over two minutes, his turnaround jumper giving Golden State a 75-66 lead. Point guard Nate Robinson then scored eight fourth-quarter points to help keep the Hornets at bay.

With 1:30 left in the game, Thompson sealed the victory with one last basket. This time, he drove past Hornets guard Marco Belinelli for a two-hand dunk. A fitting capper considering the progress he’s made as a scorer.

“He came into the league being able to get open off screens and get shots,” Jackson said. “The thing that he’s gotten better with doing from Day 1 is putting the ball on the floor. He was not able to do that the first time he stepped on an NBA court. Right now he’s comfortable doing it, and he’s going to continue to get better.”

This last stretch of games is vital for Thompson. Considering he’ll be called on to score, these games are helping him develop his arsenal and learn how to become a consistent scorer in the NBA.

While touting his first step and his ballhandling skills, Thompson said he’s working on developing his counter moves and secondary moves—because “that’s what all the great scorers have.” He also said he’s learning how to draw fouls and get to the free throw line, as well as create shots for his teammates.

Why are Jackson and his teammates are so confident Thompson can become a reliable scorer? He’s got a trick in his bag to rely on.

“He’s got one of the best shooting strokes in the league,” Lee said after totaling 25 points and 11 rebounds. “You add the feel for the game that he has, that makes him very difficult to guard. It all comes from the fact that everything he does works off his jump shot. He can really, really shoot the ball. I’d put him up there with just about anybody in the league.”

- Warriors missed out on J.J. Hickson, who was claimed off waivers by Portland on Wednesday.

Hickson – a 6-foot-9, 242-pound power forward in his fourth season – was waived last week by Sacramento. Golden State wanted to sign him but didn’t have the $2.35 million under the cap needed to claim him off waivers.

The Warriors’ only hope was that Hickson cleared waivers and they could sign him as a free agent. Rules allow teams to sign players to the minimum despite being over the cap. According to a multiple sources, Hickson was interested in joining the Warriors.

Golden State, after trading big man Ekpe Udoh to Milwaukee, is in need of front line help. Before flaming out in Sacramento, Hickson built a reputation as a promising young big man in Cleveland.

WARRIORS AT HOUSTON

Tipoff: 5 p.m. at Toyota Center

TV/Radio: CSNBA; 1050

Rockets update: Houston entered Wednesday clinging to the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. … In nine games as a starter this season, PG Goran Dragic is averaging 15.8 points on 51.5 percent shooting with 9.7 assists in 37.1 minutes.

Warriors update: Golden State has lost 11 of its last 12 to Houston, including six straight at the Toyota Center. … Rookie Jeremy Tyler made his first career start Wednesday.

Rockets injuries: PG Kyle Lowry (bacterial infection) is out. SG Kevin Martin (strained right shoulder) is day-to-day.

Warriors injuries: C Andrew Bogut (fractured left

ankle) and PG Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle) are out. C Andris Biedrins (strained right groin) is day-to-day.

— MARCUS THOMPSON II

WARRIORS AT UTAH

Tipoff: 6 p.m. at Energy Solutions Arena

TV/Radio: CSNBA; 680

Jazz update: Utah has won four straight at home. … Opponents are averaging 93.9 points at Energy Solutions Arena. … Center Al Jefferson and power forward Paul Millsap combined are averaging 34.9 points and 18.3 rebounds per game.

Warriors update: The Warriors had won four of six entering Friday’s home game against Milwaukee. Golden State has won three straight on the road. … Rookie swingman Klay Thompson averaged 20 points his first two starts in place of SG Monta Ellis. But the games were a tale of two Thompsons. In his first start, he was 6 of 19 shooting, missing all

five of his 3-pointers. The next start, he was 9 of 16 with three 3-pointers made.

Jazz injuries: SG C.J. Miles (illness) is day-to-day.

Warriors injuries: PG Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle) and C Andrew Bogut (fractured left ankle) are out.

– MARCUS THOMPSON II

With the trade now official, and after absorbing a cycle of negative reaction from the fans, members of Warriors management spoke publicly about the team’s blockbuster move.

The gist of their unified message — delivered before Wednesday’s 105-103 loss to visiting Boston — was clear: They hated to see star Monta Ellis go, but it was worth it to get center Andrew Bogut.

“While I know this is hard for many of our fans,” Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob told this newspaper via email, “and perhaps not understandable to them, the fact is we just hit a home run.”

The loss to Boston — in which the Warriors rallied from an eight-point deficit to make it a nail-biter — snapped Golden State’s three-game win streak.

Guard Nate Robinson, who finished with 20 points and 11 assists, missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds that would have put the Warriors ahead.

But not even defeat could squelch the joy of Warriors’ management over Tuesday’s trade.

The Warriors sent Ellis, ever-improving second-year big man Ekpe Udoh and the expiring contract of injured center Kwame Brown to Milwaukee. In return, Golden State received Bogut and swingman Stephen Jackson.

Another reason the Warriors made the trade was amplified Wednesday: rookie swingman Klay Thompson. A bonus from the departure of Ellis, per the Warriors, is that Thompson gets more minutes. Starting his second game at shooting guard, Thompson set a season-high with 26 points on 16 shots in

40 minutes of action.

“There is no secret — he is not afraid of the moment,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said of Thompson.

Yet, the home run Lacob was referring to is Bogut — a 7-foot, 245-pound, 27-year-old, seven-year veteran.

Though he’s injured, he’s the answer to the franchise’s annual search for a formidable big man. Though the trade cost the Warriors the beloved star of the franchise, the potential for next year’s team — Bogut, Thompson, forward David Lee, point guard

Stephen Curry — was too good to pass up.

Though they had to part with a prized young big man in Udoh, and now need to reassemble the bench, Warriors executives believe the future is as secure as it’s ever been.

“I think next year, oh my goodness,” said Jerry West, an executive board member and consultant for the Warriors. “You cannot judge a trade by what happens today. I think you have to look at what happens in the future. I think there’s a lot of people particularly in the league, who I talked to, that thought we did really well.”

Warriors general manager Larry Riley was ecstatic about the move and apparently couldn’t wait to talk about it. He’s been on the hunt for a center since he took over as the general manager

before the 2009-10 season.

This past offseason, he went after Tyson Chandler (who opted to sign with New York) and DeAndre Jordan (who remained with the Los Angeles Clippers after they matched the Warriors offer). So you can understand why Riley was elated about landing Bogut, whom West called the third-best center in the NBA, presumably behind Orlando’s Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum.

Riley, recognizing fans were upset at the move, defended the trade before Wednesday’s game.

“We were finally able to bring a big man into this organization and a big man of quality,” Riley said. “It’s not the same old thing anymore. We took a bold step. We know it’s a bold step.

“We were stuck,” Riley continued.

“You want to be stuck three games below .500 at this time of the year every year? You want to be stuck five games below or something like that? That’s where we were. And that’s where we were going again the next year if we couldn’t do something.”

Both Bogut and Stephen Jackson were on their way to the Bay Area by the time Wednesday’s game tipped off. They are scheduled to take their physicals Thursday and will be introduced to local media Friday.

The Milwaukee Bucks traded Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night for a three-player package headed by high-scoring guard Monta Ellis.

The Bucks also receive forward Ekpe Udoh and centre Kwame Brown in the deal first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on its website.

The trade represents a parting of ways between the Bucks and Bogut, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft who has struggled with injuries. It also allows the Bucks to rid themselves of Jackson, who had fallen out of favour with coach Scott Skiles and now gets to rejoin his former team.

For the Warriors, the trade breaks up the small backcourt of Ellis and Stephen Curry and brings in the type of big man the franchise has been seeking for years.

“We’re extremely excited to acquire a player the calibre of Andrew Bogut, who we think is certainly one of the top centres in the NBA,” general manager Larry Riley said. “He will add an element of toughness to our team and will provide us with scoring, rebounding and a defensive presence in the middle. We’ve lacked those elements in recent years and think that Andrew’s addition will be a key factor in the growth of our team.”

Ellis and Udoh left the team before Golden State’s 115-89 win at Sacramento. The deal was announced shortly after the game ended. Ellis, whose future has been subject of trade speculation, was reminded that he recently said he wanted to stay with the Warriors long term.

“Well, everybody says that,” Ellis said. “But sometimes it (doesn’t) always work out like that.”

The players won’t be separated from their respective former teams for very long, as the Warriors host the Bucks on Friday night.

Bogut fractured his left ankle Jan. 25 against Houston when he landed awkwardly, and it’s not clear if he’ll be able to return this season. The original timetable for his recovery was eight to 12 weeks. It’s one of several significant injuries that have plagued Bogut throughout his career.

Bogut missed the end of the 2009-10 season when he dislocated his right elbow, sprained his right wrist and broke his right hand in a hard fall to the floor. The injury bothered him for much of last season.

Bogut also missed significant time with an injured lower back in the 2008-09 season.

When Bogut has played, he has played well. In 408 career games, he is averaging 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots.

The Bucks struggled in February without Bogut, but have won four of their last five to chase down the struggling New York Knicks in a race for what would be the No. 8 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Jackson, meanwhile, hasn’t played since Feb. 19, recently sitting out with what the team has described as a hamstring injury. Skiles benched him for a game in January after he missed a shootaround, he was suspended one game by the NBA for verbally abusing an official and his playing time has been limited ever since.

The deal brings the enigmatic “Captain Jack” back to the Bay Area. He helped lead the team’s only playoff run since 1994, a surprising trip to the second round in 2007. In October 2009, the disgruntled Golden State star asked to relinquish his captain title during a meeting with Riley and then-Warriors coach Don Nelson. He was traded to Charlotte the next month.

Ellis has been the Warriors’ main offensive threat, averaging 21.9 points. But Golden State struggled to win with the backcourt tandem of Ellis and Curry. The deal clears a spot for 6-foot-7 rookie Klay Thompson to take over at shooting guard, adding needed size to the starting backcourt

Ellis signed a six-year, $66-million contract in July 2008, then injured his left ankle in August in a low-speed moped crash — an off-season activity prohibited in his deal as is a standard provision for contracts around the league. It cost him a 30-game suspension without pay.

Udoh is averaging 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 21.8 minutes for the Warriors. Udoh is an athletic power forward who was Golden State’s sixth pick in the 2010 draft out of Baylor. The Warriors hoped he would become a reliable defender, rebounder and shot blocker.

Brown, a former No. 1 overall pick by Washington, is likely out for the season with a chest injury and will be eligible to be a free agent this summer.

“The difficult part of this transaction is having to part ways with several players who we really value and one, in particular, Monta Ellis, who has been instrumental in our organization for the last several years,” Riley said. “We wish Monta, Ekpe and Kwame the best of luck in Milwaukee and thank them for their many contributions.”

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks traded Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night for a three-player package headed by high-scoring guard Monta Ellis.

The Bucks also receive forward Ekpe Udoh and center Kwame Brown in the deal.

The trade represents a parting of ways between the Bucks and Bogut, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft who has struggled with injuries. It also allows the Bucks to rid themselves of Jackson, who had fallen out of favor with coach Scott Skiles and now gets to rejoin his former team.

For the Warriors, the trade breaks up the small backcourt of Ellis and Stephen Curry and brings in the type of big man the franchise has been seeking for years.

“We’re extremely excited to acquire a player the caliber of Andrew Bogut, who we think is certainly one of the top centers in the NBA,” general manager Larry Riley said. “He will add an element of toughness to our team and will provide us with scoring, rebounding and a defensive presence in the middle. We’ve lacked those elements in recent years and think that Andrew’s addition will be a key factor in the growth of our team.”

Ellis and Udoh left the team before Golden State‘s 115-89 win at Sacramento. The deal, first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, was confirmed shortly after the game ended.

The players won’t be separated from their respective former teams for very long, as the Warriors host the Bucks on Friday night.

Bogut fractured his left ankle Jan. 25 against Houston when he landed awkwardly, and it’s not clear if he’ll be able to return this season. The original timetable for his recovery was eight to 12 weeks. It’s one of several significant injuries that have plagued the Australian center throughout his career.

Bogut missed the end of the 2009-10 season when he dislocated his right elbow, sprained his right wrist and broke his right hand in a hard fall to the floor. The injury bothered him for much of last season.

Bogut also missed significant time with an injured lower back in the 2008-09 season.

When Bogut has played, he has played well. In 408 career games, he is averaging 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots.

The Bucks struggled in February without Bogut, but have won four of their last five to chase down the struggling New York Knicks in a race for what would be the No. 8 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Jackson, meanwhile, hasn’t played since Feb. 19, recently sitting out with what the team has described as a hamstring injury. Skiles benched him for a game in January after he missed a shootaround, he was suspended one game by the NBA for verbally abusing an official and his playing time has been limited ever since.

The deal brings the enigmatic “Captain Jack” back to the Bay Area. He helped lead the team’s only playoff run since 1994, a surprising trip to the second round in 2007. In October 2009, the disgruntled Golden State star asked to relinquish his captain title during a meeting with Riley and then-Warriors coach Don Nelson. He was traded to Charlotte the next month.

Ellis has been the Warriors’ main offensive threat, averaging 21.9 points. But Golden State struggled to win with the backcourt tandem of Ellis and Curry. The deal clears a spot for 6-foot-7 rookie Klay Thompson to take over at shooting guard, adding needed size to the starting backcourt

Ellis signed a six-year, $66 million contract in July 2008, then injured his left ankle in August in a low-speed moped crash — an offseason activity prohibited in his deal as is a standard provision for contracts around the league. It cost him a 30-game suspension without pay.

Udoh is averaging 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 21.8 minutes for the Warriors. Udoh is an athletic power forward who was Golden State’s sixth pick in the 2010 draft out of Baylor. The Warriors hoped he would become a reliable defender, rebounder and shot blocker.

Brown, a former No. 1 overall pick by Washington, is likely out for the season with a chest injury and will be eligible to be a free agent this summer.

“The difficult part of this transaction is having to part ways with several players who we really value and one, in particular, Monta Ellis, who has been instrumental in our organization for the last several years,” Riley said. “We wish Monta, Ekpe and Kwame the best of luck in Milwaukee and thank them for their many contributions.”

___

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley and Josh Dubow contributed to this report.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks agreed to trade Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said Tuesday night.

The Bucks will receive guard Monta Ellis, forward Ekpe Udoh and center Kwame Brown, the person confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the deal on its website Tuesday night.

The trade represents a parting of ways between the Bucks and Bogut, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft who has struggled with injuries. It also allows the Bucks to rid themselves of Jackson, who had fallen out of favor with coach Scott Skiles and now gets to rejoin his former team.

The players won’t be separated from their respective former teams for very long, as the Warriors host the Bucks on Friday night.

Speaking before Golden State‘s game at Sacramento on Tuesday, Ellis said he and Udoh were headed back to Oakland.

“It’s not a bad thing, man,” Ellis said. “Not at all. We are going to another team to do the same thing we love to do. I’m riding back home with him.”

Bogut fractured his left ankle Jan. 25 against Houston when he landed awkwardly, and it’s not clear if he’ll be able to return this season. The original timetable for his recovery was eight to 12 weeks. It’s one of several significant injuries that have plagued Bogut throughout his career.

The Australian missed the end of the 2009-10 season when he dislocated his right elbow, sprained his right wrist and broke his right hand in a hard fall to the floor. The injury bothered him for much of last season.

Bogut also missed significant time with an injured lower back in the 2008-09 season.

When Bogut has played, he has played well. In 408 career games, he is averaging 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots.

The Bucks struggled in February without Bogut, but have won four of their last five to chase down the struggling New York Knicks in a race for what would be the No. 8 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Jackson, meanwhile, hasn’t played since Feb. 19, recently sitting out with what the team has described as a hamstring injury. Skiles benched him for a game in January after he missed a shootaround, he was suspended one game by the NBA for verbally abusing an official and his playing time has been limited ever since.

The deal brings the enigmatic “Captain Jack” back to the Bay Area. He helped lead the team’s only playoff run since 1994, a surprising trip to the second round in 2007. In October 2009, the disgruntled Golden State star asked to relinquish his captain title during a meeting with then-Warriors coach Don Nelson and general manager Larry Riley. He was traded to Charlotte the next month.

Ellis has been the Warriors’ main offensive threat, averaging 21.9 points.

Ellis signed a six-year, $66 million contract in July 2008, then injured his left ankle in August in a low-speed mo-ped crash — an offseason activity prohibited in his deal as is a standard provision for contracts around the league. It cost him a 30-game suspension without pay.

Udoh is averaging 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 21.8 minutes for the Warriors, who were set to play at Sacramento on Tuesday night. Udoh is an athletic power forward who was Golden State’s sixth pick in the 2010 draft out of Baylor. The Warriors hoped he would become a reliable defender, rebounder and shot blocker.

Brown, a former No. 1 pick, is likely out for the season with a chest injury.

___

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.

SACRAMENTO — The Warriors entered Monday four games back, two games in the loss column, of Denver … for the No. 6 seed in the NBA’s Western Conference.

Yes, after consecutive wins against winning teams, Golden State is thinking playoffs.

“We’ve just got to take care of what we can control,” Warriors point guard Stephen Curry said. “Our game count is lower than most teams. That means we’ve got a lot of catching up to do. But that means we have control of the situation. It’s not like we need other teams to go on a crazy losing streak. We just need to get some wins and close that gap, so we’re focused on that.”

Despite all the disappointing losses, and the daunting schedule ahead, Golden State (17-21)

is sporting newfound confidence. After getting routed at home by Memphis on Wednesday, the Warriors beat up on Dallas and survived in a gutsy road win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Houston (22-20) entered Monday owning the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Golden State is 13th but just three back of the Rockets with 28 games to play.

Tuesday, Golden State plays at Sacramento, owner of the second-worst record in the Western Conference. Wednesday, the Warriors host a Boston team playing its third game in three nights. On Friday, Golden State hosts Milwaukee, which is 8-15 on the road.

The road is paved for the Warriors to make a run. The question is will they finally make one.

“We just need to

take it one game at a time,” guard Monta Ellis said. “We need to continue doing what we have been doing the last couple of games, which is sharing the ball, getting defensive stops and getting out and running.”

The Warriors might get to give it a go with the current unit. According to team sources, the club is embracing the likelihood that a trade — especially a major splash — won’t happen by Thursday’s deadline.

Golden State, as this newspaper reported, was gearing up to make a

play for Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut. But that attempt comes with many hurdles. Not only might Bogut (fractured left ankle) be done for the year. But any deal for him might require bringing back Stephen Jackson, who left the Warriors on bad terms in 2009.

Sources dismissed reports Monday that Golden State is considering trading Ellis in a three-team deal involving Orlando and New Orleans. Golden State still isn’t willing to part with Ellis for anything on Orlando other than Dwight Howard. And no one on the Hornets, not even former All-Star center Chris Kaman, makes the Warriors willing to part with Ellis, one source said.

Warriors management might look for a smaller deal to give the team an immediate boost. But one team source

said Golden State is OK if it doesn’t pull off a trade by the deadline. That way, the Warriors can deal in the offseason, this time without the lockout hindrances from last offseason.

That would mean the current crew would have the chance to pull off We Believe II. The team already has caught the eye of NBA commissioner David Stern.

“They’re picking up some wins that are causing people to raise their eyebrows,” Stern told this newspaper. “I’m watching the Western Conference and there are five teams with 21 losses. And Houston and Dallas, which are seventh and eighth, have 20 losses. There are a lot of teams that think if they can get hot, they’re going to get in. That’s pretty exciting, isn’t it? As the commissioner, I’m feeling

pretty lucky.”

The Los Angeles Clippers played down to their opponent and fell to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday March 11. Even after a furious fourth quarter rally by Los Angeles, the Warriors held on to win by a score of 97-93. With the loss, the Clippers fall to 23-16 on the season. This game shows that an emerging Clipper team still has a lot of work to do before they’re considered a contender.

Clippers/Warriors 3/11/12
Kyle Rapoza

Being in attendance for the game, it was clear that Golden State was the more physical and more aggressive team for most of the game. Surprisingly, their lineup of primarily guards gave Los Angeles the most trouble. The Clipper defense struggled when they were forced to play three guards together and match up with the Warriors’ athleticism.

Los Angeles was done in by poor free throw shooting throughout the game. They made just 19 out of 35 free throws for 54%. Many of the attempts weren’t even close and barely hit the rim. In the end, a four point loss was decided by free throw shooting.

The Clippers were led by Blake Griffin who finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds for the game. Griffin shot just seven out of 15 at the line though. Golden State played physical on Blake throughout and it really seemed to get to him late in the game. His free throw shooting was affected, and Blake appeared to force things on the offensive end at key times.

Much of their fourth quarter rally featured a lineup that included reserves Eric Bledsoe, Reggie Evans, and Bobby Simmons. Credit should go to coach Vinny Del Negro for keeping with the hot hand in crunch time. The rally came up short as Golden State regained their composure in the final two minutes and Monta Ellis made hit big baskets to lead his team to the victory.

Monta Ellis led the Warriors with 21 points, six rebounds and 11 assists. Dorrell Wright also got hot from three point range and finished with 20 points and four three pointers.

Being at the game, it’s fun to see energy in the stands for Clipper games again. This team is certainly improved and is fun to watch again. These are the type of games that championship contenders need to win and take care of business. The lack of energy early in the game shows the Clippers aren’t quite there yet. They’re certainly getting closer though.

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. He’s a lifelong NBA fan that has enjoyed watching the Clippers’ rise to relevancy this season.

Source:

Clippers vs. Warriors box score

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The Dallas Mavericks were crushed by the lowly Golden State Warriors 111-87 on Saturday night, their seventh consecutive road defeat, and stretching their current slump to 8 losses out of the last 10 contests. Mavs fans are stunned and disappointed by the team’s swoon, but they understand that this compacted season and all these back-to-back games are especially difficult on veteran teams like Dallas (and the Lakers, for example, who are also suffering a mid-season slump). We fans can only hope that the cagy Mavs’ veterans are saving up their energy for a final late season surge.

This game was all Golden State as Dallas pretty much slept-walked through the whole contest. It was 26-15 at the end of the first quarter and 52-42 at the half. Things just got worse for the Mavs in the second half as they were outscored by seven points in each quarter to lose by 24.

Dirk Nowitzki was the leading scorer for Dallas with 22 points and 4 rebounds, and Jason Terry added 15 points and 5 assists. Golden State had five players in double figures. David Lee led the Warriors with 25 points and 9 rebounds, and Nate Robinson chipped in 21 points and 5 boards in the easy home win.

Dallas drops to 23-20 on the season with the loss, but fortunately the team gets a couple of days of much-needed rest before a home match up with the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, March 13. Golden State moves to 16-21 with the victory, and has to play back-to-back games as they travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Sunday night.

Clayton Browne lives in Austin, Texas and is a big-time NBA fan. He follows both the Mavs and the Spurs closely.

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LOS ANGELES — Just like that, the game was tied at 83, with more than four minutes still to go. Golden State’s 21-point lead, which they held just 10 minutes earlier, was extinct.

The stage was set for another disappointing loss. The Warriors, finishing a back-to-back set, were again reeling, wilting under the pressure of a late run by the home team. This time, though, they didn’t cave.

Rather suddenly, Golden State flipped the switch Sunday — just in time to pull out a 97-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Over the final 3:19, after a timeout allowed them to regroup, the Warriors made every necessary play down the stretch.

“We don’t have a history of responding when an opponent

increases the volume,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson proudly told reporters after the game. “I love the fact that my guys settled down and made plays.”

The Warriors survived despite scoring just 19 points on 5-for-13 shooting with six turnovers in the fourth quarter. Even with the fourth-quarter struggles, Golden State still finished at 51.4 percent from the field, including 8 of 15 from 3-point range.

The Warriors held the Clippers to 43 percent shooting.

That’s two straight victories. A game at Sacramento on Tuesday, a winnable game, is the only thing standing between the Warriors and their second three-game win streak of the season. Their confidence is sky high after knocking off a rested Clippers team in the running for

a top-four seed in the Western Conference.

For good reason, too. With point guard Stephen Curry glued to the bench — the Warriors took the Clippers’ best shot and, though dazed, didn’t fall.

“At the end of the day, we looked up and saw we were still ahead,” guard Monta Ellis said after totaling 21 points and 11 assists, his second 20-and-10 game of the season. “We kept our composure.”

The Warriors regained control after starting center Ekpe Udoh blocked a runner by Clippers

guard Eric Bledsoe. Ellis grabbed the rebound and went coast-to-coast, dropping in a reverse layup in traffic to put the Warriors up 85-83 with 2:58 left.

After Griffin split a pair of free throws, forward Brandon Rush put the Warriors up 87-84 by dunking back Udoh’s miss. Rush then grabbed a critical rebound on the ensuing defensive possession, securing a much-needed stop.

Then David Lee (18 points, 10 rebounds), who had been in foul trouble all night, converted a tough driving layup to put the Warriors up by five. He ran to the bench flexing his muscles after the Clippers called a timeout with 1:27 left.

Before Ellis’ basket, the Warriors had totaled five points and six turnovers in the quarter. But in a span of less than

two minutes, they were as clutch as ever.

After the timeout, the Warriors took advantage of another Clippers turnover — an illegal rim assist — to get the ball back. Rookie swingman Klay Thompson knocked down two free throws to put Golden State ahead 91-84 with 1:19 left. They were the first of eight free throws the Warriors made down the stretch to seal it.

“No reason to panic,” forward Dorell Wright said. “We were up, and they made their run.”

The Golden State Warriors were happy with the way they ended their road trip – a 120-100 win over the Washington Wizards. They now return home and get to face a team that is playing some really solid basketball right now in the form of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies have won four straight games overall and also have won their last four matchups against Golden State. In their previous two matchups this year the Warriors lost by one point in each contest – losing 91-90 on January 23 and 104-103 on February 18.

The Warriors are going to have to build up a lead and be able to hold it if they are going to beat the Grizzlies on March 7. Let’s take a look at some storylines coming into their matchup with Memphis:

Playoff Push

The Warriors are still four games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference and have four teams ahead of them, two of which have records that are .500 or better. The Warriors sit at 15-20 with 31 games left to go in the season, including this matchup with the Grizzlies. If the Warriors are going to consider making a playoff push it needs to start against the Grizzlies, who are currently fifth in the Western Conference.

Stephen Curry’s Return

Curry scored 12 points in his return for the Warriors in Washington. He played just nine-minutes and 18 seconds, but was 5-for-7 from the floor including 2-of-3 from three point range. In fact, the entire Warriors team came alive from three-point range, making 15-of-23 three-pointers on the night. The return of Curry to the lineup infused the Warriors with the little extra boost they needed in order to really take charge against the Wizards. It won’t be any different when the Warriors face the Grizzlies, except that they may need a bigger boost from Curry.

Interior Presence

The Grizzlies have All-Star Marc Gasol who is averaging a near double-double on the season with 18.8 PPG and 9.8 RPG. The Warriors are going to have to combat Gasol somehow and figuring out how to do that will be a key to winning this basketball game. The Warriors frontcourt will have to do some serious work inside the key in order to give them a good chance at beating the Grizzlies. In both games this year, the Warriors have been out-rebounded by the Grizzlies by a total of 86-70 and outscored in the paint by a total of 96-56.

It’s time for the Warriors to get a one-point revenge on the Grizzlies with a healthy Stephen Curry.

Prediction: Warriors 100 – Grizzlies 99

David is co-founder of wrapupp sports blog where fresh content is posted daily and present sports blogs and sports opinions – all with a West Coast bias. Growing up in the Bay Area, David is a huge supporter of all the local sports teams; the Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks, 49ers, and Raiders. His one fault, admittedly, as many of his friends and family would say, is his love for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Magic Johnson was his favorite basketball player and he fell in love with the team. He chalks it up to, “Not knowing any better”. Now his love for sports has turned just as academic as it is intuitive and he follows most all sports all over the nation.

You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp

Sources:

NBA.com. Warriors vs. Grizzlies Preview. NBA 2012.

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GRIZZLIES vs GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Oracle Arena, 9:30 p.m.

TV, radio: SportSouth, NBA TV; WMFS 92.9-FM/680-AM

Records: Grizzlies: 22-15. Warriors: 15-20.

LINEUPS

Grizzlies: Mike Conley, 6-1, Tony Allen, 6-4, Rudy Gay, 6-8, Marreese Speights, 6-10, Marc Gasol, 7-1.

Warriors: Monta Ellis, 6-3, Dominic McGuire, 6-9, Dorrell Wright, 6-9, David Lee, 6-9, Ekpe Udoh, 6-10.

THE SKINNY

Memphis will try to extend its overall winning streak to five games while going for its fifth in a row over the Warriors. The Griz have won 8 of 9 and 10 of their past 12 games. They are also 11-1 against teams with sub-.500 records. The struggling Warriors have used 12 different players in 10 starting lineups this season. Who to watch? Gasol, who leads the Griz with 18.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during the winning streak.