NBA Wrap: Monta Ellis becomes the unlikely hero for the Warriors over the Kings

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So the Warriors pulled out a close game with some fourth quarter heroics. No it wasn’t from Baron Davis. No it wasn’t Stephen Jackson. It wasn’t even Andris Biedrins. Monta Ellis took over in fourth quarter to lead the Warriors past the Northern California rivals the Sacremento Kings 105-102.

Ellis scored 16 of his 34 points when it counted the most, in the fourth. It’s a good thing that he did because the Warriors normal heroes Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson weren’t able to save the day in this one. Baron Davis got into foul trouble and wasn’t ever really able to get it going, eventually fouling out of the game. Stephen Jackson twisted his ankle and was hobbling around for most of the game.

“I didn’t think (Davis) was going to get that sixth foul, but once he got it, I knew what I had to do,” Ellis said. “It wasn’t just me. It was everybody. We all had to dig down, and we got it.”

Ellis, who is starting to become a legitimate star in this league has been on fire lately. Over the last seven games his been shooting 66% from the field and he took over down the stretch for the Warriors. He scored 9 consecutive points late in the fourth followed by his gutsy baseline jumper and a free throw with 3.3 seconds left to quell the Kings’ last rally.

Around the league

• Lou Williams scored 18 points, and the Sixers won their third straight game with a 101-80 victory over the Clippers.
• Yao Ming had 28 points and nine rebounds, and the Houston Rockets routed the Atlanta Hawks 108-89 for their 10th win in 11 games.
• The Knicks overcame a 17-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Bucks 99-98 and break an eight-game losing streak.
• Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz responded one night after their 10-game winning streak ended by beating the Chicago Bulls 97-87.