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With Monta Ellis sitting out Wednesday night’s game for the Golden State Warriors as they hosted the Sacramento Kings, they were missing 26 points a game. With a team such as Golden State, they typically would fold up their tent.

But then again C.J. Watson came to the Warriors’ rescue.

Watson scored a career-high 40 points while the Warriors enjoyed a huge first half and pull away early in the second quarter, allowing Golden State to destroy Sacramento 130-98 at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors broke the game wide open in the second quarter, outscoring the Kings 42-16 for their most lopsided quarter in two decades; they would go on a 12-0 run early in the period, capped by Anthony Tolliver’s dunk which made it 44-31. After Kevin Martin made a free throw for Sacramento, Stephen Curry scored the next six points for Golden State, extending their lead to 18.

Tyreke Evans’ layup ended a five-minute scoring drought without a basket for the Kings, but the Warriors would pour it on further; Devean George hit a pair of three-pointers and Curry drained a 3 during a Golden State 13-0 run; Tolliver’s trey made it 66-36 with about 2 minutes left in the half and the Warriors would lead by as many as 33. the Kings saw the writing on the wall on this one as they brought in their bench as did the Warriors for the balance of the contest.

Watson led the Warriors with a career-high 40 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals while Anthony Morrow chipped in 25 (including four treys) with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and a block; Curry added 24 with 6 rebounds, 15 assists and 3 steals while George poured in 16 (including 4 three-pointers) with 2 rebounds, an assist and a steal.

The Kings were led by Evans and Jason Thompson with 17 points each – with Evans grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 10 assists along with 3 steals, but committing 6 turnovers while Thompson grabbed 15 boards and dished out an assist; Donte Greene added 15 with 3 rebounds, an assist and 2 blocks.

Golden State (15-38) plays again on Friday when they start a lengthy home stand by hosting Utah while Sacramento (18-36) travels south to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers Saturday night.