Warriors Surprise SuperSonics

Not everything has gone wrong for Golden State Coach Mike Montgomery in his first season in the NBA. Take Wednesday night for example.

“I’m really happy that these guys have stuck together and they’ve believed in each other,” Montgomery said after a rare Warrior victory, 117-110, over the SuperSonics at Seattle.

Jason Richardson scored 30 points and Derek Fisher had 21, including five three-point baskets, and the Warriors had a 37-point third quarter to end a three-game losing streak.

Montgomery, who enjoyed a 30-2 record in the last of his 18 seasons at Stanford, has had to endure losing streaks of nine, six and six games this season on the way to a 15-38 record.

“I just feel like they’re starting to grow as a team and they’re starting to grow as a group,” Montgomery said. “They’re not getting down on each other when they start making mistakes. I think that augurs well down the road.”

Richardson easily outplayed Seattle All-Stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, who had 26 and 17 points, respectively.

Seattle lost its second home game in a row but still finished with a 10 1/2 -game lead in the Northwest Division at the All-Star break at 35-16.

*

Cleveland 111, Atlanta 89 -- LeBron James scored 28 points at Cleveland to help the Cavaliers reach 30 victories before the All-Star break for only the fourth time.

Antoine Walker had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who had only nine players available and lost their 15th road game in a row.

*

Indiana 95, Portland 87 -- Reggie Miller scored 27 of his season-high 36 points in the second half at Indianapolis to help the Pacers win for the third time in the four games before the All-Star break. Miller had 10 consecutive points during a pivotal 14-6 third-quarter run.

Joel Przybilla had 18 points and 17 rebounds for Portland, which cut a nine-point deficit to one early in the fourth quarter before Indiana pulled away.

*

Detroit 93, Philadelphia 75 -- Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton scored 20 points apiece at Philadelphia, and the Pistons never led by fewer than seven after taking a 25-8 first-quarter lead en route to their fourth victory in a row.

Allen Iverson had 21 points on eight-for-21 shooting for the 76ers.

*

Charlotte 94, Denver 88 -- Kareem Rush scored 14 of his 20 points in the third quarter at Charlotte, N.C., to help the Bobcats build a 10-point lead en route to ending a seven-game losing streak.

Carmelo Anthony had 21 points for Denver, which ended a five-game trip 2-3.

*

Chicago 121, Toronto 115 -- Kirk Hinrich had 28 points, Ben Gordon scored 15 in the fourth quarter and the Bulls made 11 of 15 three-point shots to reach a season high for points at Toronto.

The Bulls had six double-figure scorers and shot 58% in winning their third in a row and for the 16th time in their last 21 games.

Chris Bosh had 28 points for the Raptors.

*

New Jersey 96, Sacramento 85 -- Jason Kidd had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 64th triple double, and Vince Carter scored 21 points in beating the Kings at East Rutherford, N.J.

Mike Bibby had 25 points for the Kings, who were undone by the Nets’ 14-2, fourth-quarter run in losing for the sixth time in their last seven games.

*

San Antonio 101, New Orleans 78 -- Tim Duncan scored 19 points, and the Spurs turned a seven-point lead after three quarters into a rout at New Orleans. Rookie J.R. Smith led the Hornets with a career-high 25 points.

*

Boston 90, Memphis 88 -- Ricky Davis made a 12-foot jumper with 3.9 seconds left at Boston.

Mike Miller had made a three-point shot with 9.8 seconds left to tie it at 88-88 for the Grizzlies. Another Miller three-point shot fell short at the buzzer.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 19 points. Stromile Swift scored 19 for Memphis.

*

New York 108, Milwaukee 90 -- Jamal Crawford scored 23 points to lead six Knicks in double figures, and they pulled away in the fourth quarter with Stephon Marbury sitting out the period as Crawford directed the offense.

Marbury had 14 points and nine assists in 31 minutes. Toni Kukoc had 20 points for Milwaukee.

*

New Orleans Hornet Coach Byron Scott said he was so annoyed with Baron Davis’ lack of progress in rehabilitating his ankle injury that he told the trainer to “let him stay in L.A. and do whatever he’s doing.” Davis, who returned to Los Angeles to rehab two weeks ago, was expected to play last Friday but called the trainer and told him he was still having trouble moving laterally, Scott said.