Ellis leads Golden State past Seattle

Mickael Pietrus tallied 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the Warriors, who posted their fifth straight win while sending the SuperSonics to their third consecutive defeat.

Baron Davis played less than 18 minutes due to sore ribs and finished with eight points for Golden State, which also got 18 points from Jason Richardson.

Mike Dunleavy had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Golden State, which posted its sixth consecutive victory at home. The Warriors are also 7-3 this season, their best start to a campaign since 1994-95.

"Monta stepped up huge for us tonight in Baron’s absence," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. He really took charge of the game."

Ray Allen totaled 34 points and 11 rebounds for the SuperSonics, who have lost five of the last six meetings.

"Having three guards in there kept them running," Allen said of the Warriors. "We needed to pack it in the paint, and not stay so spread out. They penetrated our middle, and did it all night."

Golden State held a 23-22 lead after one quarter, but widened that margin considerably in the second. Eight straight points moved the lead to 40-30, finished by a Richardson layup. The lead stood at 55-42 at halftime.

Seattle whittled the deficit to 70-65 on Allen’s three-point play with 3:22 remaining in the third, but Ellis scored a pair of buckets during a 6-0 run and the Warriors ended the stanza ahead 76-67.

The Sonics couldn’t get closer than five points in the final period. Allen’s two free throws made it 86-81 with 4:42 remaining, but Dunleavy and Andris Biedrins each hit two free throws for a nine-point cushion.

Game Notes

Keith McLeod had 10 points, while Biedrins ended with 13 rebounds for Golden State..Rashard Lewis scored 17 for Seattle, while Luke Ridnour had 14 and Earl Watson 12.