Warriors win going away, cool off Clippers

(01-14) 23:18 PST -- Monta Ellis calls Vladimir Radmanovic the "Serbian Missile," but Friday night, the forward was the "Serbian Secret."

Radmanovic subbed in when center Andris Biedrins fouled out and hit two clutch three-pointers that helped the Warriors stave off a comeback attempt by the Clippers 122-112 at Oracle Arena.

After DeAndre Jordan made two free throws to tie it 106-106 with 3:58 remaining, Radmanovic made threes on back-to-back possessions as he was seemingly forgotten by the Clippers on the perimeter. His key baskets kick-started a 10-0 run that put the Warriors ahead 116-106 with 1:57 left and was dually keyed by defense, of all things.

After Biedrins fouled out, coach Keith Smart opted to also sit point guard Stephen Curry against the Clippers' stronger backcourt. The result: The Clippers turned it over three straight times as Ellis had a steal, Dorell Wright blocked a shot and Eric Gordon passed to no one in particular.

"It was a really tough decision to take (Curry) off the floor, but we made it happen," Smart said. "If our team is a team, then those decisions shouldn't bother anyone."

Ellis agreed: "It's a tough decision to sit a guy like Steph, but we won from it."

The Clippers (13-25), who had won eight of their past 11 games, outshot the Warriors from the field and won the rebound game. But the Warriors (16-23) made 11 more three-pointers than their opponents - actually shooting better from three-point range than inside the arc - and committed only two turnovers over the final 17 minutes.

Ellis scored a team-high 30 points to go with six assists, Curry added 23 points, four rebounds and four assists, and David Lee had 19 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.

The Clippers got 28 points apiece from Gordon and Blake Griffin, who added 13 rebounds.

But this game was won by the Warriors' reserves. On top of Radmanovic's late heroics, guard Reggie Williams scored 16 points - his first double-digit scoring game since Dec. 21.

"It's no secret, I've been trying to get this man to play this way all year long," Smart said. "He finally played. I've been trying to get him to be aggressive, because he can make shots and can make plays."

The reserves finding a groove couldn't come at a better time as the Warriors have started this make-it-or-break-it 22-game stretch only 2-2. They've still got 15 of their next 18 at home.

"We've got to build off this momentum," Smart said. "We're pushing a rock uphill - a big rock at that. We've got to keep pushing and take advantage of this opportunity to here. You don't opportunities like this very often."

Eleven of the Warriors' next 12 games are at Oracle, and they don't have to leave California again until a one-game roadie at Phoenix on Feb. 10.

"The next week and a half will really tell the story of our season," Ellis said. "Being in the West, we can't fall back two games. That's like four or five games when you're playing in the West."

E-mail Rusty Simmons at rsimmons@sfchronicle.com.