Rare victory for Warriors

David Lee scored 24 points.
David Lee scored 24 points.

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January 15, 2012, 8:44 pm

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- David Lee scored 24 points and Monta Ellis added 22 to help the Golden State Warriors win on the road for the first time this season, 99-91 over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

Golden State won at Detroit for the second time in its last 17 visits. Greg Monroe had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Pistons.

The Warriors trailed 48-44 at halftime but went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter and never trailed after that. They led by five early in the fourth before scoring 10 points in a row to make it 88-73.

Ellis scored 17 points in the second half.

The Warriors came in having lost seven of eight, including a 112-100 defeat at Charlotte on Saturday. First-year coach Mark Jackson said before Sunday's game he expected his group to play like "a team that's upset." Although the Warriors had a hard time stopping Monroe inside, they prevented any of the other Detroit players from becoming too comfortable on offence.

The Pistons snapped a six-game losing streak Friday night with a victory at Charlotte, but Lee hurt them inside early, then Ellis and Dorell Wright contributed some scoring of their own in the second half.

Lee's streak of double-doubles ended at six games. He fouled out with 4:40 remaining with only six rebounds. Lee went 10 of 12 from the field, and the Warriors shot 52 per cent.

Detroit shot 42 per cent.

The Warriors were still without guard Stephen Curry, who has a sprained right ankle. Both teams seemed intent on going inside early. Monroe and Lee each scored 17 points in the first half.

Detroit coach Lawrence Frank was on his feet for much of the half, shouting detailed instructions to his team at the defensive end.

Wright scored on a breakaway in the third, capping an eight-point run and giving Golden State a 56-54 lead. It was 74-69 after Ellis made a shot from near the top of the key at the buzzer to end the quarter.

Detroit was still within striking distance at 78-73 in the fourth, but the Warriors scored 10 straight points. Backup guard Nate Robinson had six points during the run and finished with 10.

The Warriors had six players in double figures. Brandon Rush scored 12 points and Wright contributed 11.

Monroe went scoreless in the final quarter and attempted only one shot.

.NOTES: Detroit was with without G Will Bynum (strained right foot), F-C Charlie Villanueva (sore right ankle) and G-F Damien Wilkins (family matter). ... Austin Daye went 0 of 3 from three-point range for the Pistons and is now 0 of 13 for the season. ... Ellis had seven assists.

 
 
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