Maggette thrives against old team

OAKLAND — Corey Maggette simply took pleasure in winning, whether it came against his former team or anyone else.

Maggette scored 20 points and the Golden State Warriors ended a two-game slide Sunday night with a 107-92 victory over the Clippers.

“It’s just special to get a win,” said Maggette, who played for the Clippers the previous eight seasons. “I know they were undermanned over there, and we just wanted to go out there and get us a win.”

Eric Gordon scored 21 points for the Clippers, who lost their seventh consecutive game on the road and 15th in 17 games overall. Al Thornton had 17 points and Ricky Davis had 15. Rookie center DeAndre Jordan grabbed a season-best 20 rebounds to go with eight points.

“It was just tough for everybody,” Gordon said. “We were so short-handed and it’s just tough.”

The Warriors led, 55-44, at the half and took an 84-64 lead after three quarters.

“I don’t even know when the last time was we played them healthy,” Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “That’s a part of it. Their guys have played good games.”

Monta Ellis, in his second game this season, made a three-point basket to spark a 23-5 run by the Warriors to end the first quarter, reversing an eight-point deficit. The Warriors built an 18-point lead on Ronny Turiaf’s dunk midway through the second quarter.

“The Clippers are depleted, so I don’t know how much you can make of this game,” Coach Don Nelson said. “We played better in games we lost, but a win is good to have at any time.”

Ellis scored 20 points in his season debut, against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. He had been out since suffering an ankle injury in a motorized scooter accident in August.

“It’s great to have him back,” Maggette said. “He adds a totally different dimension to our team, with his speed and how he attacks the basket.”

After two consecutive losses, Golden State had to enjoy its laugher. Turiaf stopped Thornton from dunking midway through the fourth quarter with a block that earned high-fives from his teammates.

Anthony Morrow had 17 points and Kelenna Azubuike had 16 for the Warriors, who defeated the Clippers for the fifth consecutive time.