OAKLAND, Calif. – Monta Ellis had 26 points and nine assists to help the Golden State Warriors beat the New Jersey Nets for the sixth straight time, 109-100 on Monday.
David Lee added 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors, who have won two of their first three games in a key stretch to the season that features 13 of 14 games at home.
Brook Lopez scored 20 points and Devin Harris added 19 for New Jersey, which has have lost six straight and 11 of 12 games.
The Nets are in a tumultuous stretch, with many of their players linked to a possible three-team trade that would bring All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony from Denver to New Jersey.
A possible deal has been hanging over the Nets for weeks, with reports Sunday that the team has been granted permission to meet with Anthony to try to persuade him to accept a three-year, $65 million extension, which could pave the way for the deal to be finalized. Coach Avery Johnson said before the game he had no knowledge of any meeting.
The latest loss completed an 0-4 road trip for the Nets, who stayed close but never were able to seriously threaten the Warriors. Golden State led by eight early in the fourth quarter before Reggie Williams hit a jumper and then made a steal that set up a three-point play for Ellis that made it 95-82 with 7:38 to go.
The Nets responded with seven straight points, but Ellis hit a couple of baskets to help build the lead back up to 10. The Nets closed back within five before Stephen Curry hit a 3-pointer with 1:57 remaining to keep the Warriors in control.
Curry struggled for much of the night offensively, shooting just 4 for 10 from the field. But he scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help preserve the win. Williams picked up some of Curry's slack by scoring 12 points off the bench.
The Nets trailed by 11 early in the third quarter before Lopez made two baskets during an 8-0 run. The game stayed close for the rest of the quarter with Acie Law's two free throws in the closing seconds giving Golden State a 79-73 lead heading into the fourth.
Lee scored 14 first-half points to help Golden State get off to a solid start against the Nets. Ellis made a pull-up jumper with 25 seconds left in the half to give the Warriors a 54-46 lead at the break. Devin Harris missed a jumper just before the buzzer for New Jersey.
NOTES: The Warriors had a rare afternoon home game as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. ... Lopez has scored 87 points in his last three games. ... New Jersey rookie F Derrick Favors had zero points on 0-for-3 shooting in 19 minutes. ... G Anthony Morrow, who was traded from Golden State to New Jersey in July, did not play because of a strained right hamstring.
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