Monta Ellis had 18 points and six other Warriors scored in double figures in Golden State's 112-103 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday.

Linton Johnson and reserve guard Jannero Pargo each had 17 points for the Hornets, who had three players foul out. Point guard Chris Paul, last season's rookie of the year, had 11 points and seven assists.

New Orleans forward Cedric Simmons scored nine points in 15 minutes before fouling out with 5:33 left in the third quarter. David West fouled out with 9:35 left in the game after scoring 13 points in 22 minutes. Desmond Mason fouled out with 4:09 remaining and had 10 points.

Trailing by as many as 13 points early in the third quarter, the Warriors went on a 12-2 run before pulling into a 74-all tie on Anthony Roberson's three-pointer with 4:24 left in the period. But they didn't regain the lead until Roberson's layup gave them an 87-86 edge with 9:21 to play.

Mason went to the bench with the Hornets trailing 99-98, and the Warriors ended the game with a 14-4 run that included five points by Dajuan Wagner.

Golden State played without converted centre Troy Murphy, who broke his nose in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's overtime win against Portland when Zach Randolph hit him with an elbow. Jason Richardson, who underwent left knee surgery in August, hopes to be cleared to practise soon.

Murphy underwent surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles to have his nose reset. He also won't play Friday night at Staples Center during the second day of the Staples Shootout. The Warriors will re-evaluate his condition when the team returns home, and the fifth-year veteran is expected to start the regular season wearing a clear protective mask.

Patrick O'Bryant started at centre in place of Murphy and had two points in 15 minutes. Ike Diogu, the last player off the Warriors' bench, fouled out with 3:34 left in the third quarter after playing just eight minutes and scoring eight points.

West led New Orleans to a 57-48 halftime lead with 11 points and six rebounds, and the Hornets converted 17 first-half turnovers by Golden State into 15 points. After missing 14 of their first 18 shots, the Hornets opened a 34-24 lead with a 13-0 run that included three-pointers by Pargo and Peja Stojakovic.