Watson picks up scoring slack in Ellis’ absence, scoring 40 in Warriors 130-98 win over Kings

Watson’s 40 lead Warriors to 130-98 win vs. Kings

OAKLAND, Calif. — C.J. Watson scored a career-high 40 points and Stephen Curry had a career-best 15 assists to help the Golden State Warriors break out to a 30-point first-half lead on the way to a 130-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

With star guard Monta Ellis and his 26.2-point scoring average sidelined for a third straight game with a sprained left knee, the Warriors played one of their best offensive games of the season.

Watson scored 23 points in the first half, matching his season high for a game, and made 15 of his first 16 shots and set his career high with an off-balance layup in the closing minute. He also had seven rebounds and six assists.

Curry ran the offenses seamlessly, dishing out 10 assists in the first half. He scored 24 points and had six rebounds for his third straight double-double. After having a triple-double in the final game before the All-Star break, Curry finished two assists shy of another one on Tuesday against the Lakers and four rebounds away against the Kings.

Golden State won for just the second time in 12 games with both victories coming in blowouts in the last two home games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento.

Tyreke Evans had 17 points and 10 assists for the Kings, who have lost eight of 10. Jason Thompson added 17 points and 15 rebounds. Sacramento was looking for its first three-game road winning streak since the 2007-08 season.

The Warriors broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring Sacramento 42-16 for their most lopsided quarter in nearly two decades. The last time Golden State had that big a margin in a quarter was Nov. 2, 1991, when the Warriors outscored the Kings 48-18 in the first quarter at home.

Golden State went on a 12-0 run early in the quarter, capped by Anthony Tolliver’s dunk off a nice pass from Curry that made it 44-31.

After Kevin Martin made one of two free throws for the Kings, Curry scored the next six points to extend the lead to 18. Evans’ layup ended a five-minute drought without a basket for Sacramento, but the Warriors poured it on after that.

Devean George hit two 3-pointers and Curry hit one during a 13-0 run. Tolliver’s 3-pointer made it 66-36 with about 2 minutes left in the half and it was garbage time the rest of the way. The Warriors led by as many as 33 points in the third quarter.

Anthony Morrow added 25 points and George had a season-high 16 for the Warriors.

Martin, who played only 15 seconds in a close fourth quarter against Boston on Tuesday, was held to 10 points in 19 minutes.

NOTES: Watson also scored 38 points last April against Utah. … Curry had the most assists for a Warriors rookie since Tim Hardaway had 16 against the Clippers on April 18, 1990. … Ellis is expected to be miss another week with his knee injury, coach Don Nelson said. … Golden State F Corey Maggette was held out in the second half with a stiff left hamstring. … The teams split their four meetings this season, with the home team winning all four games.