Jackson earns 1st triple-double in Warriors win

Thursday, February 5, 2009


Print Comments 
Font | Size:

(02-04) 23:20 PST -- Nothing like a wire-to-wire blowout to get past some in-house grousing.

A game after Jamal Crawford and Corey Maggette squabbled over passing and scoring, the Warriors treated the basketball like a hot potato and served up an offensive tour de force.

Golden State blitzed Phoenix 124-112 on Wednesday behind Stephen Jackson's first career triple-double in a game that was a throwback to the Warriors' flashy run-and-gun years.

The Warriors set season-highs for points in a half (72) and a quarter (43), while tying marks for three-pointers (13), and perhaps most importantly, assists (29).

Maybe calling out his teammate for being selfish has a place after all.

"It's nothing that doesn't happen on any team," said Crawford, who wouldn't go into specifics about the confrontation. "It's over. It happened and we'll move on."

Did they ever. The Warriors moved the ball almost without end, driving and kicking and pinballing it from corner to corner for wide-open looks. During one first-quarter possession for Golden State, the ball changed hands six times.

Jackson dazzled with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, reaching the landmark with an assist to Ronny Turiaf, who drilled a 19-footer with about four minutes left.

After the play, Jackson was embraced by Turiaf and given an ovation from the sellout crowd of 19,596 when his numbers were shown on the big screen.

"I came close for so long, it feels good to finally get it - and a win," Jackson said. "I wouldn't have been excited about it if we lost."

As it stood, he had plenty of help in dismantling the reeling Suns.

Kelenna Azubuike turned a seeming mismatch against Amare Stoudemire into a runaway rout. The Warriors' guard-turned-power forward scored 19 of his season-high 25 points in the first quarter, hitting seven of his first eight shots against the defenseless Stoudemire.

Golden State ran out to a 17-2 lead by swishing its first six shots, all but one from three-point range. Azubuike led the onslaught with three triples.

The Warriors finished the game shooting 52 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from three-point range thanks to their refreshing ball movement.

"It makes the game so easy," said Crawford, who added 27 points, six assists and five rebounds. "The ball dictates the shot."

Both Crawford and Maggette, who chipped in 18 points and seven rebounds, downplayed Monday's exchange. During one timeout, Crawford even had his arm around Maggette's shoulder as they huddled on the bench.

Golden State led by as many as 25 points, and Monta Ellis was the lone Warrior off-the-mark, missing all seven shots he took against a Suns team he'd run circles around in the past.

Ex-Warrior Jason Richardson led the Suns with 24 points, while Shaquille O'Neal added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Phoenix has lost eight of its last 12 games.

Numbers Game

1

Career triple-doubles for Stephen Jackson, who also recorded back-to-back games with 10 or more assists for the first time

7

Three-pointers for the Warriors in the first quarter

10

Times this season that Golden State has shot at least 50 percent from the field

E-mail Janny Hu at jhu@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page D - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle


Print

Comments


Inside SFGate

Spank The Future Are you in sufficient awe of what you can do with technology? Mark Morford.
Love Stories "He's Just Not That Into You" well made, likable. LaSalle. Best Actress poll
Today's Daily Dish Miley breaks silence about controversial pics; Etta rants.

San Francisco Chronicle Real Estate

From
Bradley Real Estate

Belvedere / Tiburon

4 BR / 3 BA

$1,995,000

Corte Madera

2 BR / 2 BA

$499,000

Novato

4 BR / 4 BA

$899,000

Novato

4 BR / 3.5 BA

$945,000

Belvedere / Tiburon

5 BR / 4 BA

$2,300,000

Belvedere / Tiburon

3 BR / 2.5 BA

$1,900,000

San Anselmo

2 BR / 1 BA

$479,000

San Anselmo

5 BR / 3 BA

$629,000

Novato

4 BR / 4.5 BA

$1,275,000

San Rafael

4 BR / 2.5 BA

$1,050,000

Homes

Search Homes »


Cars

Search Cars »


Jobs

Search Jobs »

Advertisers