Ellis scores 34, Warriors snap skid with 108-94 win over Blazers

Ellis leads Warriors over Blazers

OAKLAND, Calif. — Monta Ellis scored a season-high 34 points and had eight assists, Anthony Morrow added 23 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Portland Trail Blazers 108-94 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Anthony Randolph had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Corey Maggette added 13 points and Stephen Curry had 12 for the Warriors, who won their ninth straight home game against the Blazers.

Rudy Fernandez had 19 points and five assists, Brandon Roy added 17 points and Greg Oden had 16 points but was plagued by foul trouble throughout the second half for Portland, which lost for just the second time in nine games.

The Warriors (4-8), playing their first home game since trading disgruntled forward Stephen Jackson to the Charlotte Bobcats last Monday, trailed by eight points early but turned the game around when Oden got in foul trouble midway through the first half.

Ellis, who got into an argument with coach Don Nelson during Golden State’s recent road trip, did the most damage while recording the 17th 30-point game of his career. He had 19 points in the first half, then scored 11 in the fourth quarter when the Warriors led by as many as 20.

Portland, which had held its six previous opponents to 85 points or less in regulation, had no answer. The Blazers (9-5) also struggled getting coach Nate McMillan’s three-guard offense going despite Golden State playing short-handed.

The injury-riddled Warriors were without injured starters Andris Biedrins (back) and Kelenna Azubuike (patellar tendon) and were forced to sign Chris Hunter from the NBA Development League before the game just to meet the NBA’s minimum of eight players.

Hunter started the second half and scored four quick points early in the third quarter when Golden State, which led by four at halftime, extended its lead to 64-55.

Morrow, whom Jackson frequently referred to as one of the best pure shooters in the NBA, also provided a boost with nine straight points in the third quarter as the Warriors outran and outhustled the Blazers.

Oden had 11 points, two assists and a block of Ellis in the first nine minutes of the game but picked up back-to-back fouls in a five-second span in the second quarter and spent the rest of the half on the bench.

Portland, which led 37-29 after the first quarter, struggled offensively without its 7-footer and the Warriors took full advantage.

Morrow and Randolph combined for 12 points, Randolph scoring on a soaring dunk down the lane with 33 seconds remaining, and Golden State closed out the half with a 17-4 run to take a 56-52 halftime lead.

NOTES: Portland’s 37 points in the first quarter were the most by the Blazers in any quarter this season. … Portland’s last win at Golden State came on Nov. 3, 2004.