Basketball: Ellis scores career-high 45 points in Warriors' win

OAKLAND -- Monta Ellis scored a career-high 45 points, Anthony Morrow added 18 and the injury-riddled Golden State Warriors beat the Indiana Pacers 126-107 on Monday night.

Ellis went 15 of 27 from the floor, made 14 of 16 free throws and added five rebounds in topping his previous best of 42 points while leading Golden State (6-10) back from a 15-point deficit in the first half to win for just the third time in eight games.

Mike Dunleavy, who played his first four-plus seasons with the Warriors, came off the bench with 22 points while Danny Granger added 22 points and seven rebounds for Indiana (6-9).

Golden State played its fourth straight game without head coach Don Nelson, who has pneumonia. Nelson is expected back Thursday against Houston.

The Warriors, who were coming off a 33-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, were also without starting center Andris Biedrins (back) while backup Ronny Turiaf was slowed by a sore knee. They also lost forward Anthony Randolph to a foot injury in the second half.

It didn't matter, not on a night when Ellis was virtually unstoppable.

The Golden State team captain had 18 points in the first quarter, five in the second and 13 in the third -- including a spinning 180-degree layup over Granger that turned into a three-point play. He then scored the first seven points in the fourth quarter to give the Warriors a 92-83 lead.

Ellis repeatedly brought the crowd at Oracle Arena to its feet with his performance against the Pacers and left to a standing ovation after fouling out with 6:03 left to play.

Indiana, which entered the game with the NBA's fifth-best field goal defense, had no answer.

The Pacers, who led 39-25 early in the second quarter, controlled the boards but committed 25 turnovers and scored only two baskets over the final 7:25 minutes of the third quarter when Golden State took control.

Indiana, which beat the Warriors 108-94 on Nov. 11, has lost six of its last seven overall.

Dunleavy, who was traded to the Pacers during the 2006-07 season, provided a silver lining for the Pacers. Playing in just his second game after undergoing surgery on his right knee in March, the former Warrior struggled from 3-point range but moved around well and gave Indiana a much-needed burst off the bench.

Ellis scored the Warriors' final 16 points in the first quarter but the Pacers got a big lift off the bench from Dahntay Jones, who had eight points and an assist while Granger added five points, five rebounds and a block to help Indiana take a 33-25 lead.

Jones finished with 21 points and T.J. Ford added 17 for Indiana.

The Pacers extended their lead to 14 points early in the second quarter but Golden State chipped away and pulled to 42-41 on Morrow's 3-pointer with 4:58 left.

Dunleavy responded with his own 3-pointer and scored seven points down the stretch as the frustrated Warriors went cold, missing six of their final nine shots with three turnovers and trailed 57-51 at halftime.

NOTES: The Pacers were attempting for their first season sweep of the Warriors since 2005-06. ... Granger averaged 38.0 points in his previous three games against Golden State but went 7 of 17 from the floor in the loss.