Randolph returns, so does his game, in Warriors' win over Nets

Welcome back Anthony Randolph -- and thank you weather and airlines for cooperating.

Randolph, who went home to Arkansas to tend to a family emergency, made it back to New Jersey on Wednesday in time for the Warriors' game against the Nets. And the Randolph who returned was the Randolph every Warriors fan wants to see. The active, versatile, multi-dimensional Randolph who had the best game of his career on Saturday was back, replacing the lifeless, uninterested Randolph who played Monday like a man with lots of off-court issues on his mind.

In 20 minutes, Randolph had 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. He changed the game when he came in late in the first quarter to help lead the Warriors to a 105-89 win in a game where Monta Ellis, Mr. Everything the last few weeks, struggled to put the ball in the basket.

See: More observations from win

Randolph saved possessions with offensive rebounds, wiped out Nets scoring chances with blocked shots, grabbed defensive rebounds and pushed the ball as the point center, finished breaks with dunks and found teammates for open shots in the half court.

It very much resembled his "perfect game" against the Magic.

Considering the Warriors' luck this year, the fact that he was even at the game should have been an omen of things to come. On Monday, Anthony Morrow couldn't get back to the team after attending a family funeral because bad weather forced delayed flights and he was severely missed in the loss to the Thunder.

But Randolph made it. And the game turned when he entered with 1:20 left in the first quarter and the Warriors down 27-17. The Warriors immediately went on a 14-2 run that spanned the first and second quarters. In that time, Randolph had three rebounds, two assists, a block and an infusion of energy.

The Warriors outscored the Nets 38-21 in the second quarter and were in control most of the second half as they broke a four-game losing streak.

Of course, Randolph wasn't alone as the entire team picked up their struggling leader, who was 0-for-6 in the first quarter and made just one of his first 10 field goals.

C.J. Watson, almost baiting the Nets to make cross-court passes, had five steals and 18 points, mostly on breakaway layups (although one was blocked from behind) as he got easy points and helped set the pace of the game.

Mikki Moore, a former Net who was given a vote of confidence in this space just a few days ago, had a season-high 16 points on five dunks and three lay-ins while adding seven rebounds.

Corey Maggette had 13 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Stephen Curry had 14 points, four assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Of course Ellis couldn't be held down the entire game, finishing with 18 points, eight assists and four steals.