(Sports Network) - Monta Ellis picked up where he left off last season for the Golden State Warriors and will try to lead his team to victory again tonight versus the Los Angeles Clippers from Oracle Arena.
Ellis, who averaged 25.5 points a year ago, scored 46 points on 18-of-24 shooting in Wednesday's 132-128 season-opening victory versus the Houston Rockets and newcomer David Lee muscled his way to 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Warriors, who are in the midst of playing four of their first five games in Oakland.
"It's a relief," Ellis said of winning the opener. "We've been going through preseason and training camp for this moment right here. To get the first win to start the season off in the right direction says a lot."
Stephen Curry also had a double-double with 25 points and 11 assists in head coach Keith Smart's debut. Golden State relinquished Don Nelson of his coaching duties following a 26-56 mark in 2009-10. Nelson, the NBA's all-time wins leader as a head coach, was replaced by assistant Smart.
Curry is questionable for Friday's game with a sprained right ankle. The Warriors will visit the Lakers before heading home to host Memphis and Utah.
The Clippers were beaten, 98-88, by Portland on Wednesday in head coach Vinny Del Negro's debut, as Eric Gordon scored 22 points and Blake Griffin added 20 points and 14 rebounds in defeat. Griffin, who missed all of last season with a broken kneecap, set the Clippers rookie record for boards in a season debut.
"It was just great to be out there," Griffin said. "I have a lot of things to add to my game. In certain areas I was happy with the way I played, but I wasn't happy with my blocking out. There's a lot of room for improvement."
Rasual Butler netted 16 points in a losing cause for LA, which will begin a three-game homestand versus the Mavericks, Spurs and Thunder after this evening's contest in the Bay area.
Los Angeles lost its first four games at the start of last season and the first six contests of the 2008-09 campaign.
Clippers forward Craig Smith is questionable for Friday's game with a sore lower back.
Golden State and Los Angeles split four meetings last season. The Warriors have won eight of the past 11 matchups between the two clubs.