Jan

12

Warriors Snap 5-Game Skid, Beat Pacers 120-117

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap 

On most nights, most people would think of a Golden State Warriors-Indiana Pacers game as a test in what your attention span might be – that’s codespeak for the game is a snoozer.  But oddly enough at Oracle Arena on Sunday night, both teams hooked up and guess what?  The game could actually be considered arguably the most exciting game on the limited NBA docket.  Plenty of scoring to be had, especially by the Pacers’ Danny Granger and the Warriors’ Jamal Crawford; Granger poured in 42 but Crawford got the last laugh as his 32 points – including a 3-pointer with 11.3 seconds left – helped Golden State nip Indiana 120-117.

Both teams shot well during the first half as the Pacers outscored the Warriors 32-23 in the first quarter while Golden State outscored Indiana 32-29 in the second period, with the Pacers taking a 61-55 lead into halftime.  With Golden State trailing going into the fourth quarter, they took a one-point lead as Crawford converted a rare 4-point play with 7:22 left in the game.  But Indiana would regain the lead 42 seconds later on a 3-pointer by Travis Diener while Golden State’s Marco Belinelli was lying on the hardwood with a sprained ankle.

With Granger scoring on a jumper with 3:43 remaining, both teams exchanged 11 lead changes; after Crawford hit a pair of free throws to put the Warriors up 116-114 with 33.5 seconds left, Granger drained a trey.  The game was settled once and for all when Crawford also drained a 3, which turned out to be the game-winner with 11.3 seconds to go.

Golden State’s leading scorer was Crawford with 32 points (including 4 three-pointers), 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal while Kelenna Azubuike added 21 (including 3 treys) with 8 rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot; Belinelli pitched in, scoring 17 with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.  Indiana was led by Granger with 42 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots while T.J. Ford added 15 with a rebound and 6 assists; Jeff Foster, while scoring only 6 points, grabbed 12 rebounds.  Golden State (11-28) plays again on Wednesday when they host the Sacramento Kings while Indiana (13-24) travels east to Salt Lake City when they take on the Utah Jazz on Monday.


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