Golden State Warriors Blog – Page 96 – NBA Blog

Warriors recall DeMarcus Nelson from D-League

The Golden State Warriors have recalled guard DeMarcus Nelson from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Nelson, 23, started all nine games for the Jam after being assigned on November 14, and averaged 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.22 steals in 32.7 minutes per contest in the D-League. At the time of his recall, he led the team in scoring and steals, while ranking second in assists and third in rebounds.

Prior to being assigned to Bakersfield, Nelson appeared in eight games for the Warriors this season (five starts), averaging 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.6 minutes per contest. The 6-4 guard became the first undrafted rookie to appear in the starting lineup on Opening Night for the Warriors since the team moved to the West Coast in 1962.

Dec 15: Magic 109, Warriors 98

The AP reports: Jameer Nelson scored 23 of his career high-tying 32 points in the second half, and the Orlando Magic beat the Golden State Warriors 109-98 on Monday night for fourth win in five road games. Marcin Gortat, starting in place of the injured Dwight Howard, recorded his second career double-double with career bests of 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Magic improved to 19-6, their best 25-game start since opening the 1994-95 season at 20-5. Rashard Lewis added 21 points and Courtney Lee had 16. Andris Beidrins scored 23 points to lead the Warriors, who have lost 12 of their last 14 games. Marco Belinelli added 19 points and Jamal Crawford scored 16.

Dec 13: Nuggets 123, Warriors 105

The AP reports: The Denver Nuggets didn’t need another 33-point third quarter from Carmelo Anthony. Fourteen was enough to put away Golden State. Anthony had 27 points and nine rebounds, Chauncey Billups added 16 points and 11 assists, and the Nuggets beat the Warriors 123-105 on Saturday night… Kenyon Martin, who returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sprained left wrist, had 15 points for the Nuggets, who had six players score in double figures. Jamal Crawford scored 25 points and Rob Kurz had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors, who have lost 11 of their last 13.

Dec 12: Rockets 119, Warriors 108

The AP reports: Tracy McGrady tested his sore left knee during a recent practice, pronounced himself fit and then produced one of his best offensive nights of the season. McGrady just missed a triple-double in his return to the court, Yao Ming had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 119-108 Friday night… McGrady, who missed the last seven games with soreness in his left knee, had 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Rockets improved to 15-8, their best record after 23 games since the 1996-97 team started 21-2. Luis Scola had 19 points and Carl Landry scored 18… Andris Biedrins had 18 points and 12 rebounds in his ninth double-double in 10 home games for the Warriors, who had their two-game winning streak snapped. Anthony Randolph had his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. C.J. Watson added 17 points.

Dec 11: Warriors 119, Bucks 96

The AP reports: Marco Belinelli’s achingly perfect jumper from behind the backboard just rubbed it in for the Milwaukee Bucks. They couldn’t keep up when the Golden State Warriors finally played their beautiful game in the fourth quarter. Stephen Jackson scored 21 points, C.J. Watson added 19 and the Warriors won their second straight after a nine-game losing streak, 119-96 over the slumping Bucks on Wednesday night… Andris Biedrins had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Warriors, who pulled away with a 22-5 run to begin the fourth after leading just 82-81 entering the period… Michael Redd scored 27 points for the Bucks… Richard Jefferson scored 17 points, and Luke Ridnour added 13 for Milwaukee in another meeting between the clubs that played two preseason games in China in October.

Dec 8: Warriors 112, Thunder 102

The AP reports: Playing without two of their top scorers, Andris Biedrins had 17 points and 21 rebounds as the Warriors ended a nine-game skid with a 112-102 victory over the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night… Kevin Durant scored a season-high 41 and almost brought the Thunder all the way back from a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit, but Oklahoma City ended up losing its fourth straight and dropping to 2-20. Stephen Jackson (20.1 points per game) and Corey Maggette (19.1) sat out with injuries but it didn’t slow the Warriors. Jamal Crawford scored 19 points, and Brandan Wright and Anthony Morrow each had 15 as Golden State (6-15) shot 50.6 percent from the field.

Marco Belinelli unsure about playing for Italy

Golden State Warriors shooting guard Marco Belinelli hasn’t gotten many minutes yet in his short NBA career, and with the Warriors roster there’s no guarantee it’ll happen anytime soon. So he’ll be pretty rested up by the time international summer play arrives. But he isn’t sure of his plans yet. FIBA.com reports:

Marco Belinelli would like to play for Italy next summer when they attempt to reach EuroBasket 2009 via the Additional Qualifying Round but he can’t commit to the national team yet. The 22-year-old is in his second NBA season with the Golden State Warriors and his focus is on getting his career off the ground in America – something that has yet to happen. “It´s early days yet to confirm,” he said. “I would like to be there but I don´t know what my future will be in June.

I like seeing non-star NBA players in international competition. It lets us see a side of them we don’t normally see. I prefer that NBA stars sit out, because I want them to stay healthy and already know what they can do. I like seeing new stuff. If Belinelli plays for Italy, it makes me want to see them. So, hopefully he’s involved.

— InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner

Dec 1: Heat 130, Warriors 129 OT

The AP reports: Chris Quinn hit a tying 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left in overtime, Michael Beasley stole the ensuing inbounds pass and made the decisive free throw, and the Miami Heat pulled off a wild 130-129 comeback win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night… Jamal Crawford scored six of his 40 points in overtime and dished out seven assists, but his team fell short again. Udonis Haslem scored on a putback for Miami at the buzzer of regulation to force the extra session… Wade finished with 37 points and 13 assists, and Haslem and Shawn Marion each had 21 points. Beasley, who jumped in front of Andris Biedrins’ inbounds pass at the end, added 19 points and six rebounds off the bench… Corey Maggette had 29 points, Biedrins 17 points and 15 boards and Brandan Wright 16 points for a Warriors team that went 0-5 on its recent road trip. It was Golden State’s first 0-5 trip since the 2003-04 season.

Al Harrington rocks Warriors

Players often claim they have no grudge against their former teams, but Al Harrington, now with the Knicks, was pretty vocal while with the Warriors stating that things weren’t working out with him and coach Don Nelson in Golden State.

On Saturday, when the Knicks hosted the Warriors, Harrington went off for a huge game. Here’s the Contra Costa Times (Marcus Tompson II) reporting:

Warriors forward Al Harrington said he had this date marked the moment he got traded to the New York Knicks. His controversial clashing with coach Don Nelson led to his eventual departure from the Warriors, who traded him for guard Jamal Crawford on Nov. 21. But he couldn’t completely move on with the reunion date looming so close. Saturday, it happened, and Harrington showed up. “I dreamed up 60, 30 rebounds, 15 assists,” Harrington said with a smile. He wasn’t that far off. Harrington had 36 points and 12 rebounds in 39 minutes as his Knicks took down his former Warriors 138-125 at Madison Square Garden. Harrington played like the versatile weapon he always claimed to be. He knocked down 5-of-7 from 3-point range, grabbed four offensive rebounds and had a handful of dunks. He was playing up to the crowd and chest-bumping with his teammates.

It should be noted, however, that I (InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner) put up 23 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists against the Warriors that same game. And I’m not even on the Knicks. That’s how bad the Warriors defense was. Still, good game by Harrington, who could start to fit very nicely in the Mike D’Antoni small-ball scheme of things in New York.

Clifford Ray once saved a dolphin

Celtics assistant coach Clifford Ray was a star NBA center. He’s also a hero to dolphins everywhere. The Boston Herald (Mark Murphy) reports:

One of the most famous stories concerning Ray involved his role in saving the life of a dolphin from Marine World in 1978. The mammal had ingested a stainless steel screw, and Ray, because of his long reach, was brought in by doctors, who greased his arm so he could reach down the dolphin’s gullet and remove the screw. At another point, before he finally caught on as a big man coach following a long and oft-frustrating search for work within the sport, Ray worked on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dolphins are awesome. Clifford Ray is pretty cool, too.