
Even before Anthony Morrow scored a career-high 37 points in his first NBA start Saturday afternoon, a more important story had emerged.
He already had supplanted second-year shooting guard Marco Belinelli in Don Nelson's rotation. Nelson had been playing Belinelli ahead of Morrow to start the season, but in recent days Morrow has overtaken Belinelli. Against the Pistons on Thursday, Morrow entered the game before Belinelli, the first time that had happened this season.
Morrow was undrafted out of Georgia Tech and made the Warriors after impressive showings in the Las Vegas summer league and Salt Lake City Revue.
On Saturday, Nelson decided to start four perimeter players, with Morrow joining Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette and Kelenna Azubuike in the lineup. Morrow responded by going 15-for-20 from the field on the way to his career night.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Belinelli has been involved in trade rumors in recent days, with his name being linked to the New Jersey Nets.
Whether Belinelli stays or goes at this point won't impact Morrow.
WARRIORS 121, CLIPPERS 103: The game was supposed to be about Baron Davis and Corey Maggette, both of whom were going up against their former teams.
Instead, it was rookie Anthony Morrow who stole the show. Morrow had 37 points on 15-for-20 shooting and chipped in with 11 rebounds as the Warriors blew out L.A.
It was the most points ever scored by an undrafted player during his rookie season.
Davis finished with 25 points and 11 assists, but only had one impactful stretch, which occurred early in the third quarter. Maggette was limited to just 26 minutes because of hamstring issues, but he found a way to score 17 points.