With Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison sitting courtside Monday night, the Warriors pulled off a furious rally to nearly steal a win from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But the Warriors fell short, losing 117-114, thanks in part to a miscommunication between coach Don Nelson and guard Monta Ellis in the final seconds.
The loss snapped a three-game home winning streak for the Warriors. Golden State has split its last eight games.
"We did all we could," Warriors rookie guard Stephen Curry said after totaling 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists. "Down 10 with three minutes left, and we clawed our way back. We had a shot to tie and put it into to overtime — and we had the momentum so we might've won."
Ellison, who reportedly has an interest in buying the Warriors, was making his first appearance at the arena that bears his company's name.
The Warriors treated him to an overall sluggish performance, shooting only 42.4 percent from the field. Ellis, who missed the morning shoot-around because he wasn't feeling well, finished with 30 points but on just 9-for-25 shooting.
Well, at least Ellison did get to see LeBron James up close, and James didn't disappoint. He dominated as the Cavaliers shot 53.1 percent. James finished with 37 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and four blocks.
Ellison also got to see a riveting comeback by Golden State.
James capped a 10-2 run with a driving layup at the 5:28 mark, giving the Warriors their biggest deficit of the night, 108-94. With 2:20 left, Cleveland led 115-104. But the Warriors ran off eight straight points to shift the momentum. Curry made a 3-pointer, then forward Corey Maggette hit a layup. After a steal, Curry zipped an around-the-back pass to Ellis, who drilled a 3-pointer from the corner. The Warriors trailed 115-112 with 57.9 seconds remaining. James answered with a layup, but a driving finger roll by Curry pulled the Warriors back to within three with 30.1 seconds left. The Warriors got a stop but didn't call a timeout when they got the ball with five seconds left. Ellis, who got the rebound off a James miss, pushed it after some hesitation. He was swarmed before he could take a shot and had to pass the ball behind him to Curry, whose 34-foot heave at the buzzer fell a few feet short of tying the game. Nelson said he told the team in the previous timeout, at the 57.9-second mark, not to call a timeout but to push the ball instead. Ellis said if that was the plan, he didn't remember it. "I didn't hear it, that's why I looked over to the bench," Ellis said. "I did expect to call a timeout." The Warriors had to come from behind because they were overmatched most of the night. They learned before the game that second-year forward Anthony Randolph would be out an extended period with an injured left ankle. Then, inside the four-minute mark of the second quarter, they lost center Ronny Turiaf to a sprained right ankle. X-rays were negative, but he never returned to the game. By the fourth quarter, Andris Biedrins and Chris Hunter were the only big men available to the Warriors. Biedrins struggled mightily. In 13 minutes, he missed all four of his shots to go with three rebounds and five fouls. Hunter was 0-for-1 with two rebounds in seven minutes. So Nelson went small, using the likes of Maggette and Vladimir Radmanovic at center. And James took advantage. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, going to the post repeatedly. "That was normal LeBron," Ellis said. "Nothing spectacular. Nothing special. That's what he does."
WARRIORS 114
vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m.
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