Jackson’s big night in return to Oakland sparks Bobcats to 121-110 win over Warriors

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Jackson returns as Bobcats beat Warriors 121-110

OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Jackson scored 30 points in his return to Oracle Arena, Gerald Wallace had 30 points and 13 rebounds and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Golden State Warriors 121-110 on Friday night.

Jackson, who was acquired from the Warriors in a Nov. 16 trade after a falling out with Golden State management in the offseason, was booed throughout the night but responded with his fifth game of 30 points or more since landing in Charlotte.

Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin added 14 points apiece for the Bobcats (23-22), who have won 10 of their last 15.

Corey Maggette had 25 points, while Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry had 22 points apiece for the Warriors (13-32), who have lost five of six.

This was Jackson’s first appearance at Oracle Arena since the deal that sent him and Acie Law to Charlotte in exchange for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic, a trade that has been decidedly lopsided in the Bobcats’ favor so far.

Since the trade, Charlotte has gone 20-16, improved its scoring average by more than 15 points and have moved into a tie with Chicago for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference prior to blowing out the Warriors. Golden State, on the other hand, is just 10-26 since sending Jackson away — and scoring 5.2 fewer points.

Much of the Bobcats’ success has centered on Wallace, who on Thursday became the first player in the franchise’s brief history to be named to the All-Star team. Wallace had 11 of his points in the third quarter but was otherwise quiet, leaving the attention on Jackson, who earlier in the day said he expected a rough welcoming from the crowd that once cheered him.

It played out exactly as Jackson expected.

The last Charlotte player announced during pre-game introductions, Jackson was booed as he jogged onto the court and was greeted by his teammates. The boos continued each time Jackson touched the ball, and he responded early by scoring on a dunk and short hook shot in the first four minutes before most of the crowd had settled into their seats.

The player known as Captain Jack during his time with Golden State, Jackson missed five of his first seven shots but had 17 points in the first half. He spent much of the night guarding Ellis, his closest friend on the Warriors who has taken the reigns of coach Don Nelson’s offense since Jackson left.

Ellis went 10-for-23 from the floor and had six assists.

Charlotte trailed by seven early in the second quarter before Augustin scored eight points while Jackson added eight over the final three minutes to help the Bobcats to a 65-59 halftime lead.

After scoring only two points in the third quarter, Jackson scored on a hook shot over Ronny Turiaf then made a pair of 3-pointers, the second giving Charlotte its biggest lead at 107-84.

The Warriors committed only nine turnovers and shot 52.9 percent from the floor but were outrebounded 48-32.

NOTES: The Bobcats are 11-4 in January. … Curry has joined Ellis, the NBA’s league leader in minutes played, as Golden State’s iron men. The Warriors’ rookie guard logged 41 minutes against the Bobcats, after playing 40-plus in each of his previous six games … New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, who grew up in nearby Vallejo 30 miles north of Oakland, and former NFL running back Roger Craig were among those in attendance.