National Basketball Association

David Lee puts on strong showing in second game with Golden State Warriors

Published Oct. 23, 2010 2:13 a.m. ET

foxsports

Much ballyhooed forward David Lee showed Sunday some of reasons the Warriors acquired him this summer from the New York Knicks in sign-and-trade deal that included an $80 million, six-year contract.

Lee finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds in 32 minutes of the Warriors' 95-86 exhibition win over the visiting Sacramento Kings at Oracle Arena.

He was active and aggressive on offense, though he was 5-for-13 from the field. Along with backup forward Jeff Adrien, Lee helped the Warriors outrebound Sacramento. Adrien had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Sacramento's big men -- rookie center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Jason Thompson -- combined to go 10-for-30 from the field. That wasn't solely because of Lee, but he was a link in the chain of a front-line defense that was noticeably more effective than in Friday's exhibition opener against the Clippers.

In his second Warriors game, Lee looked more comfortable and definitely established a presence. He missed some easy looks inside, but he had a hand in the action most of the time. Still, Adrien, the rookie out of Connecticut, stole the show.

Smart said sometimes when they're watching film, they can see a head bobbing off to the side. The camera is focused on what's happening on the court. But occasionally, someone on the side slips into view. It's rookie Ekpe Udoh.

"That's him running by," Smart said. "When the team runs a fast break, he runs a fast break. He's in the huddles. In huddles, he sits there and pays attention. He's attentive in film room. Right now he's showing us he's a student."

Udoh is likely out until January after left wrist surgery. But he's been doing everything else right, according to Smart.

He expects Udoh will be behind in conditioning when he returns. But because Udoh is maximizing his time now, Smart expects there to be some benefits down the line. Udoh can adjust to life as an NBA player -- the pull of friends and family, all the information he has to digest, the need to get stronger -- without the pressure of then performing in the games.

n Sacramento played without point guard Beno Udrih, who is out with a sprained right shoulder.

Warriors guard Monta Ellis said he was just feeling it. But it's not just that he made his first five 3-pointers of the preseason. But they were all the same type of shots pull-ups off the dribble, in rhythm.

Ellis' 3-point shooting has been a relative weakness in his career. He made a career-high 77 last season, pushing his career average from 3-point range to 30.9 percent. He did miss his next four 3-point attempts, however, and finished with 18 points on 5-for-13 shooting.

Forward Rodney Carney (right hip contusion) worked out pregame but still sat out and is questionable for Tuesday's game at Sacramento.

Jeremy Lin made a brief stint at the end of the game. He had two turnovers in 1:21, prompting Smart to pull him for guard Aaron Miles.