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Monday, Dec. 27 10:30pm ET
Same old results in St. Jean's debut | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- P.J. Carlesimo's firing was predictable. So, it turned out, was the Golden State Warriors' first game without the beleaguered coach. Hours after Carlesimo's dismissal, Golden State lost to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs 105-83 Monday night.
David Robinson scored 28 points and Tim Duncan had 16, helping to make a loser of Garry St. Jean in his Golden State coaching debut. St. Jean, the team's general manager and a former head coach for Sacramento, took over for Carlesimo earlier in the day. Terry Porter added 14 points and Mario Elie had 10 for the Spurs, who snapped a three-game road losing streak while sending the Warriors to their fourth straight loss. John Starks' 27 points led Golden State. Antawn Jamison added 14 points. "The last I figured, they're still the world champs," St. Jean said. "I thought they stepped up their game in strong fashion. I have no problems with our effort. I thought we played hard. We're going to have to create ways to score. The outcome was pretty decisive, but in my mind there's some positive things to build on." San Antonio coach Greg Popovich, who worked with St. Jean when the two were assistants under former Golden State coach Don Nelson, said the Spurs were challenged by playing a team that had just gone through a coaching change. "We knew it would be an odd circumstance for us for all the obvious reasons," Popovich said. "I thought the effort both ways was great. I thought the Warriors came out really hard and played with energy for 48 minutes. We had to match it. I am really happy that we did." Carlesimo's dismissal in the midst of his third season with the Warriors followed a 6-21 start by Golden State which included an 11-game losing streak and successive losses to the Los Angeles Clippers last week. "With every player and coach, you're going to have your good times and bad times," Jamison said. "They felt it was just time for a change. Now, we've got to find ways to win." Warriors forward Donyell Marshall said the players had been aware for some time that Carlesimo's job was in danger and they weren't surprised. "Sometimes, you can't blame it on the coach even though coaches are always the first ones to get axed," Marshall said. "But I think it was a decision the organization probably needed to make. I think they've been waiting to make it for a long time and it just finally happened." After being down by 14 at the break, the Warriors scored the first six points of the third quarter before Robinson and Avery Johnson broke their momentum with successive fastbreak layups. Golden State closed to 72-67 after a 20-foot jumper by Starks and a breakaway dunk by Marshall, but the Spurs got a layup from Mario Elie and a pair of free throws from Porter to take a 76-67 lead into the fourth quarter. San Antonio continued the run with 12 straight points to start the final period, taking an 88-67 lead on a dunk by Robinson with 8:31 remaining. Golden State didn't hit its first basket of the fourth quarter until Starks made a baseline jumper with 7:44 remaining. "This last week I have felt really good," Robinson said. "I am starting to get that good rhythm I was in last year." Golden State stayed close early, trailing 26-24 after the first quarter. But the Spurs put together a strong burst in the closing minutes of the second quarter, using a 12-4 run to move out to a 54-40 halftime lead. After a tip-in by Jamison pulled the Warriors to 42-36, Jaren Jackson and Elie each connected from 3-point range to fuel the Spurs' flurry.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard San Antonio Clubhouse Golden State Clubhouse Carlesimo finally out, St. Jean in as Warriors coach
RECAPS Charlotte 108 Atlanta 104
San Antonio 105
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