WARRIORS NOTES
WARRIORS RUN INTO HORNETS NEST
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 22 (AP) -- While the Charlotte Hornets were finding a way to win, Golden State continued its trend of finding a way to lose.
The Hornets took their only lead of the second half on David Wesley's 3-pointer with 17 seconds to play, a shot that lifted them to a 93-91 victory over Golden State on Thursday night.
"We weren't very efficient and we didn't play a very good game, but we figured out how to win it in the end," said Paul Silas, who earned his 100th coaching victory with Charlotte.
Golden State, which led almost the entire game and by as many as 14, has dropped six straight and 11 of 12. It was the Warriors' seventh consecutive loss on the road.
"We do a terrific job of putting ourselves in a position to win games, but don't," said forward Antawn Jamison. "It has been our Achilles' heel all year, not being able to finish what we start."
The Warriors gave Charlotte a chance to win it late when Jamison made only one of two free throws with 1:21 to play to make it 89-86.
Elden Campbell then cut it to 89-88 on a dunk with 58 seconds left. Jamison's 17-footer was short at the other end and Wesley got the rebound.
The Hornets then rotated the ball at the other end while looking for an open shot. P.J. Brown found Wesley alone just over the 3-point line and Wesley sank the shot -- his only 3 of the night -- as the shot clock wound down to make it 91-89.
"The last play was designed for Elden, but they double teamed him and I was wide open and able to knock it down," said Wesley, who was 6-for-17 from the floor and only 1-for-6 from 3-point range.
After Wesley's shot, Jamison missed again at the other end and the Hornets got the rebound. Brown was fouled and hit two free throws to make it 93-89.
Jamison made it 93-91 on a 17-footer at the final buzzer.
"We need a win, that's the only thing we need right now," Golden State coach Dave Cowens said. "We've been playing hard, but with no results."
Brown led the Hornets with 18 points. Jamal Mashburn had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Campbell, Wesley and Baron Davis all scored 14.
Golden State's loss spoiled the return to Charlotte of both Jamison and Cowens.
Jamison, a Charlotte native who played at North Carolina, led the Warriors with 28 points and 10 rebounds.
It was the first trip back to Charlotte for Cowens since he resigned as Hornets coach 15 games into the 1998-99 season over a contract dispute with management.
In his 2+ seasons with Charlotte, Cowens compiled a 109-70 record -- the best winning percentage (.609) of any Hornets coach.
Silas, his assistant and former teammate with the Boston Celtics, took over and is rapidly closing in on Cowens' records. The victory improved him to 100-72 in 2+ seasons.
Notes:
Silas said the Hornets listened to trade offers for second-year forward Eddie Robinson, but didn't want to part with him. ... Jamison had all the Warriors over to his parents' house for dinner on Wednesday night. ... Charlotte plays Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia on Saturday and Silas didn't seem too eager to face the Sixers now that they have center Dikembe Mutombo. "That trade hasn't really sunk in yet," he said.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # |