MILWAUKEE – Baron Davis showed T.J. Ford that he’s still got a lot to learn at point guard – and the Milwaukee Bucks found out they have trouble defending the 3-point shot.

Davis had 20 points and 15 assists and the Golden State Warriors went 13-of-27 from 3-point range in a 110-103 victory.

Troy Murphy scored 25 points – including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc – and Jason Richardson added 23 for the Warriors (3-1).

Mo Williams and Michael Redd each had 21 points for the Bucks (3-1).

Milwaukee coach Terry Stotts, who served on the Warriors staff last season, worried before the game about the matchup problems the 6-foot-11 Murphy presented.

Murphy scored eight straight points, including consecutive 3s, and Mike Dunleavy hit a third straight shot from beyond the arc as Golden State stretched a one-point lead to 72-59 late in the third quarter.

The Bucks, who had come from behind in all three previous games, had never been down by as much, as late at that point.

But they mounted another run – without Redd, who scored just two points after picking up his fifth foul with 7:09 left. After a three-point play by Williams and a layup by Charlie Bell, the Bucks trailed 90-87 before Murphy hit another 3-pointer and added a three-point play on the next possession to stretch the lead to 96-87.

The Bucks got it back to 96-94, but Davis made a 3-pointer and Derek Fisher added another 3 to end the Bucks’ threat.

Davis, a two-time All-Star, also throttled Ford, the Eastern Conference’s player of the week. Ford went 3-of-14 with eight points and 11 assists – 10 in the first half.

Golden State picked up Davis in February, and he helped spark a 14-4 streak to end last season. With every starter returning, Golden State has picked up right where it left off.

Ford’s dynamic play has been the biggest improvement for the surprising Bucks after he missed last season following cervical spine surgery.

But he played on the edge most of the night, like when he intercepted a pass, nearly fell coming up the court, dribbled behind his back and spun a bounce pass under the basket to Redd, who completed the break with a difficult reverse layup.

During that stretch, Ford had assists on four of five baskets as Milwaukee turned a four-point deficit into a 53-50 lead, but Davis answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 53 at halftime.

Notes: The Bucks started the 2001-02 season 4-0, before that, Milwaukee won its first seven games in 1971-72. … The last time the Bucks started a season with four straight 100-point games was 1997-98. … Golden State has won four straight against the Bucks. … Davis has 24 assists in the last two games.

AP-ES-11-08-05 2240EST


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