Davis Scores 40 As Warriors Beat Bulls

[January 19, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Baron Davis matched a career high with 40 points, hitting six 3-pointers Friday night, and the Golden State Warriors used a strong finish to beat the Chicago Bulls 119-111.

Stephen Jackson had 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including a key 3-pointer with 46 seconds left.

Ben Gordon led Chicago with 29 points and Andres Nocioni added 28.

Matt Barnes scored the go-ahead basket for Golden State, grabbing a loose ball as Nocioni tried to save it, putting the Warriors up 106-104 with just over two minutes to go.

Joe Smith's basket cut it to one before Jackson dropped in two free throws with 1:20 left, making it 109-106.

After Gordon's two free throws again made it a one-point game, Jackson took a pass from Davis and made a 3-pointer from the deep corner, putting the Warriors up four.

After a miss by Nocioni, Davis made two free throws. Then Jackson hit two more and the Warriors had a hard-earned road win against the disappointing Bulls.

Golden State outscored the Bulls 35-27 in the fourth quarter.

Davis was 5-for-5 on 3-pointers in the third quarter, scoring 19 points in the period as the Warriors erased a 12-point deficit.

With Chicago ahead 69-57, Davis went to work, making a nice feed to Monta Ellis for a basket and then hitting two 3-pointers. Jackson hit another one and suddenly the Warriors were within three.

Davis connected on his fourth 3-pointer of the quarter, giving the Warriors a brief 79-78 lead. His fifth tied it at 84 headed into the final period.

Nocioni scored 18 points while playing only 12:48 in the first half. He had a three-point play and a 3-pointer during a 16-3 Chicago run starting the second quarter. The Warriors started the period by missing their first 14 field goal attempts as the Bulls raced to a 45-31 lead.

Davis converted a three-point play after a goaltending call, then sank a 3-pointer as the Warriors cut the lead in half, making it 51-44 with about three minutes to go in the half.

Golden State shot 11-for-18 in the opening quarter but hit only 7-of-27 in the second and trailed 58-50 because the Bulls hit 63 percent in the first half.

Notes: Chicago starting point guard Kirk Hinrich missed his third straight game with a sore back and got a second opinion. Coach Jim Boylan said it was muscular in nature and the Bulls hoped to have Hinrich back shortly. ... Warriors backup F Austin Croshere sat out with a sore back. ... The Bulls are 1-1 since a reported verbal exchange between Joakim Noah and Ben Wallace following a lopsided loss in Orlando on Tuesday night.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.