Warriors Top Struggling Clippers

Rookie Antawn Jamison had reason to hurry. He found out he'd be making his first start of the season 15 minutes before tipoff against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Then he picked up two fouls in the first 9 1/2 minutes. Instead of panicking, he slowed down and waited for his shot.

Jamison's patience paid off in a career-high 22 points as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Clippers 92-80 Wednesday night.

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"I didn't want to come out there rushing things like I normally do; just go out there and let the game and flow come to me," he said. "This has to be a confidence booster for myself. I've just been missing easy shots and everybody knows the time is going to come when the shots are going in."

Coming off their first road win of the season at Minnesota on Sunday, the Clippers played as if they might collect their second win in a row for the first time this season. Instead, their record dropped to an NBA-worst 2-23.

"They play so hard," Golden State coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "When you're struggling, you almost wait for something to happen. We just got a couple breaks down the stretch. They got some great looks, they just didn't go."

Jamison made the most of his first start in place of Jason Caffey, who sat out with tendinitis in his right Achilles. Jamison's previous career best was 21 points against Minnesota on Feb. 15.

"He got two quick fouls, but he was still playing relaxed," Carlesimo said.

John Starks added 16 points for Golden State.

Maurice Taylor led the Clippers with 23 points. Michael Olowokandi added 13 points and nine rebounds.

"We held them at 71 for a while. We just couldn't get in a rhythm in the fourth quarter," Taylor said. "We got the shots we wanted, we just didn't knock them down."

Los Angeles led by nine points in the first quarter and never trailed by more than five until midway through the fourth quarter.

Tieat 71, Lorenzen Wright of the Clippers got a technical foul when he slammed the ball to the floor after a rebounding battle ended in a jump ball. Muggsy Bogues missed the free throw. He finished with eight points and four steals.

"Muggsy was going really well," Carlesimo said. "Every time I thought he was getting tired, he'd come up with another loose ball."

The Clippers then won the jump ball, but Taylor turned the ball over in a bad pass to Bogues, who scored to launch nine straight points by the Warriors.

"After the tie, we just fell apart and could not score," Los Angeles coach Chris Ford said.

Jamison completed a three-point play and the Clippers were called for goaltending in the decisive run that put the Warriors ahead 80-71 with 5:35 remaining. Los Angeles never came closer than seven the rest of the game.

"The difference in the fourth quarter was they got the good looks, we were able to come up with the rebound. For a good chunk of the game, they'd miss and get a second shot," Carlesimo said. "Down the stretch, we defended and rebounded."

The Warriors' biggest lead was five points in the third quarter, when the game was tied three times over the final 4:24.

Tyrone Nesby completed a three-point play after Darrick Martin stole the ball from Terry Cummings and Charles Smith hit a jumper to give Los Angeles its only lead of the period, 67-65. The Warriors scored the final four points to lead going into the fourth.

Notes: Caffey's tendinitis is an aggravation of a previous injury. ... The Clippers played their first home game in 11 days. ... The season series is tied 1-1. ... Starks has not had a free throw attempt in the last six games. ... Jamison also had his first NBA double-double Feb. 15 against Minnesota.

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