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OAKLAND – Jermaine O'Neal rolled back the clock once more Saturday night at Oracle Arena, and it was enough to lift the Warriors to a 93-86 win over the Nets.
Making his third consecutive start in place of the injured Andrew Bogut (left shoulder inflammation), O'Neal scored 23 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and generally dominated the paint.
The Warriors (34-22) outrebounded the Nets, 50-39, and held Brooklyn to 41 percent shooting in winning their third game in a row.
Draymond Green, playing in place of David Lee (stomach flu) recorded his second career double-double, with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He added three steals while playing 38 minutes.
Stephen Curry added 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
The Warriors outscored Brooklyn (25-28) in the paint, 52-38, but were forced to hold on after leading by as much as 12.
Deron Williams led the Nets with 20 points, while Joe Johnson added 15.
Former St. Joseph High (Alameda) and Cal star Jason Kidd made his hometown debut as Brooklyn head coach.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Two nights after playing 37 minutes – more than more than he had in any game in almost three years – O'Neal provided 34 spirited minutes in place of Bogut. He crushed his individual matchup with Kevin Garnett (6 points, seven rebounds).
Honorable mention goes to Steve Blake, who came off the bench in the fourth quarter to drain a pair of big 3-pointers and dish for a couple assists. Blake finished with 6 points and five assists in 16 minutes.
TURNING POINT
This one was in doubt, then it was over, then it was doubt – until Curry came off a screen and banked in a 3-pointer with 37.2 seconds left to push the lead to five, 91-86. Green made two free throws to close it out.
Though the Nets never led, they came from 12 down to tie it in the fourth quarter before the Warriors pulled away in the final minute.
INJURY UPDATE
C Andrew Bogut (left shoulder inflammation) did not play but is expected to return as soon as Monday. C Festus Ezeli (right knee surgery) and G Nemanja Nedovic (strained left hamstring, right foot inflammation) are out indefinitely.
WHAT'S NEXT
On Sunday, the Warriors leave for a six-game road trip, opening at Detroit on Monday night. The Warriors have won the last five meetings, holding the Pistons below 100 points each time.
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