NBA: Ellis scores 35, Warriors beat Jazz 107-100

Share this: Email | Facebook | X

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Monta Ellis sent the Utah Jazz into the All-Star break with lingering concerns.

His Golden State Warriors, meanwhile, can rest easy after a couple of big wins, including Wednesday night's 107-100 win over the Jazz, who are 0-3 since coach Jerry Sloan retired.

"This is a big step for us," Warriors coach Keith Smart said, whose team has won six straight against opponents with winning records. "Knowing that this team is desperate ... to get a win, our guys fought through it."

Ellis scored 35 points as Golden State kept new Jazz head coach Ty Corbin winless.

The Jazz (31-26) will go into the All-Star break without any momentum having lost 13 of their last 17, still dealing with injuries and trying to find their way under a new coach.

"The break came at the right time," said Jazz star Deron Williams, whose shooting woes continued. He was 5 of 13 and 1 of 5 on 3-pointers.

The Warriors (26-29) have won three straight.

They did it despite an off night for star guard Stephen Curry, who was 1 of 7 on the night. His only basket came on a reverse layup that helped seal the win for Golden State.

The Jazz were without starters Andrei Kirilenko (sprained ankle) and Raja Bell (strained calf), and reserve guard Ronnie Price (sprained toe).

Corbin acknowledged before the game that this was the toughest jam the Jazz have been in all season. Not only are they going through a coaching transition, they had only nine players active.

Plus, they were on a back-to-back, having lost 102-101 in Phoenix on Tuesday night.

"We have to stay strong, stay confident," Corbin said. "I believe in these guys."

The game was tied at 48 at halftime and at 76 through three quarters.

The Jazz went ahead 90-89 on a putback by Al Jefferson. But Ellis followed with a driving layup and Reggie Williams hit a 3-pointer for a 94-90 lead with 6:09 remaining.

Ellis scored five straight to make it 99-92.

Williams' 3-pointer cut it to 103-100 with 52 second remaining, but Curry scored and Dorell Wright added a pair of free throws.

The Warriors made 8 of 19 3-pointers, while the Jazz shot 3 of 14.

Jefferson led the Jazz with 23 points, Paul Millsap added 22 and C.J. Miles 20.

A power outage knocked out half of the overhead lights in the second quarter, and after a 2-minute delay, officials opted to keep playing, deeming it bright enough.

All of the lights were still not on when the Jazz went on a 7-0 run to start the second half.

"We had enough light in there to play," Ellis said of EnergySolutions Arena that for a while late in the second quarter looked more like a dimly lit high school venue.

Miles banked in a 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down then followed with a steal and dunk to give the Jazz a 55-48 lead. He gave Utah a 9-point lead, 61-52, with a driving layup with 8:27 left.

A pair of 3-pointers by Charlie Bell and Wright cut Utah's lead to 65-62 with 6 minutes left in the third.

Then it was Ellis' turn. He hit a 3-pointer and jumper to cut Utah's lead to 70-69 with 2:42 left in the third quarter.

Curry, who scored a game-high 27 points in a 96-81 Warriors victory on Jan. 30, had only two points at halftime. He started 0 for 6, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range.

"I got into foul trouble and missed my first four shots so the bench came in a did a great job ... then in the fourth quarter Monta took over," said Curry.

Ellis said he was just happy to take what the defense gave him, which were shots outside as well as off dribble penetration.

"I've got to give credit to my big men," Ellis said. "They set nice screens for me."

Utah's Williams, who missed the first game against the Warriors because of a sprained wrist, entered Wednesday's rematch still lacking confidence in his shot. He was just 5 of 13 in Tuesday's loss to Phoenix, including 0 of 3 from 3-point range.

He came out more aggressive Wednesday and but missed two 3-pointers in the final minute.

Notes: Edgar Renteria, the 2010 World Series Most Valuable Player, attended Wednesday's game. ... With his eighth assist Wednesday, Utah's Williams became the fourth player in Jazz history to reach 4,000 career assists. ... Corbin said before the game that he selfishly hoped Williams would "shut it down" and rest his body rather than participate in this weekend's All-Star activities, but acknowledged he would simply tell his star guard to "be careful."