Post-Trade Warriors Defeat Kings In Rout
SACRAMENTO (CBS / AP) -- Nate Robinson, David Lee and Brandon Rush all scored 17 points, and the Golden State Warriors shook off the trade of leading scorer Monta Ellis to beat the Sacramento Kings 115-89 on Tuesday night.
The Warriors agreed to send Ellis, forward Ekpe Udoh and center Kwame Brown to Milwaukee for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.
The stunned Warriors then got 15 points from Charles Jenkins, 14 points and 10 rebounds from Dorell Wright, and 14 points from Klay Thompson.
Despite the loss of its top scorer and a key reserve, the Warriors pulled away in the second half for an easy victory. Ahead by 11 points after three quarters, Golden State extended it to 21 points by midway through the fourth.
DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, who lost their second straight home game. Tyreke Evans had 16 points, Isaiah Thomas scored 15 and Francisco Garcia added 11. It was the fourth of nine straight home games for Sacramento, the longest homestand in franchise history.
Drafted out of high school as a second-round pick in 2005 by Golden State, Ellis became one of the NBA's most dangerous open-court players and has averaged 19.6 points in seven seasons. But the Warriors made the playoffs just once with him.
Ellis spoke in the visitor's locker room before the game and didn't seem upset regarding the trade, which came in the same week he was named the Western Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 20.5 points, 7.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds last week in leading the Warriors to a 3-1 record.
Ellis exchanged goodbyes with stunned teammates, then quickly left the arena for the unexpected quick return trip to Oakland with Udoh, who appeared shocked after learning of the trade on a locker room TV.
"It's not a bad thing, man," Ellis said. "Not at all. We are going to another team to do the same thing we love to do. I'm riding back home with him (Udoh)."
The Warriors get a quality center, but also one who is injury prone and may not even play this season. Bogut, picked first overall by Milwaukee in the 2005 draft, hasn't played since injuring his left ankle in a Jan. 25 game. He has played in only 12 games this year and missed a combined 76 games in the previous three seasons.
The traded players will received a quick opportunity to play against their ex-teams when the Bucks visit Golden State on Friday evening.
Golden State was also without its other starting guard, Stephen Curry, who has had a bothersome right ankle injury for much of the season. Curry started and played 10 scoreless minutes Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers before leaving the game for good with ankle problems.
With Ellis gone and Curry not dressing, Robinson made his first start of the season. He had 15 points at the half, when the Warriors had a 54-49 lead. Cousins scored 15 points for the Kings.
Wright scored 11 points in the third quarter, when the Warriors outscored the Kings 30-24 to assume an 84-73 lead.
Notes: Robinson made a pair of 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the first quarter, helping the Warriors to a 2924 lead. . Kings forward J.J. Hickson played in a reserve role after missing the previous six games with a hip pointer. . Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson watched the game from a courtside seat.
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