CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jamal Crawford scored 50 points to help the undermanned Golden State beat the Charlotte Bobcats 110-103 tonight, giving Warriors coach Don Nelson a win in his first game with a new coaching strategy.

A night after Nelson announced he would no longer have anything to do with the Warriors' NBA-worst defense, assistant Keith Smart handled that part of the game, while Crawford handled the offense — and then some.

In his best game since being acquired from New York last month, Crawford was 14-of-26 from the field, 5-of-8 from 3-point range and made 17 of 18 free throws. He was two points shy of his career high.

Kelenna Azubuike added 21 points and the Warriors snapped a five-game losing streak with Nelson and Smart co-coaching the team.

Golden State played again without top scorers Corey Maggette (hamstring) and Stephen Jackson (hand), who is not expected to return until Friday. Crawford more than made up for it.

Gerald Wallace scored 26 points,and Raja Bell added 21 for the Bobcats, who couldn't build off their best game of the season a night earlier and failed to win three in a row for the first time this season.

The Bobcats cut a 12-point deficit to 95-88 on Raymond Felton's 3-pointer with 4:53 left. Crawford responded with a 3-pointer on the next possession, then later added two free throws and a mid-range jumper.

The Bobcats, who shot a franchise-best 66 percent in a blowout win Friday at Memphis, struggled to have the same presence inside.

Boris Diaw got into foul trouble and was held to 11 points. Emeka Okafor had 12 points and 13 rebounds, but air-balled a free throw with his team down by five with 28.3 seconds left.

But the Bobcats' biggest problem was defending Crawford, while the Warriors' new defensive strategy seemed to work OK.

Nelson said he decided Friday afternoon to turn over the defensive responsibilities to Smart, explaining after Friday's loss to Atlanta that he's not tough enough and that "I'm getting soft as I get older."

The 68-year-old Nelson didn't inform the players of the move until before Saturday's game, which the Warriors entered allowing 112.2 points per game, most in the league.

Smart took an active role during the game, getting out of his seat and shouting instructions when Charlotte had the ball. They each had chairs in the huddle during timeouts, and several times Smart spoke before Nelson.

"Before, he had to wait until I was done," Nelson said before the game. "Now, he and I can both talk whenever we want. It gives him more authority in the huddle."

It wasn't the only unorthodox move by Nelson. He made a late change and started Brandan Wright, a night after he scored a career-high 19 points against the Hawks. Then Wright, who was traded by Charlotte to the Warriors moments after he was drafted last year, missed his first three shots and committed three fouls in five minutes.

Wright played only 3 minutes the rest of the night and didn't score. Rookie Anthony Randolph, after not getting off the bench against the Hawks, scored two points in seven minutes.

It didn't matter with Crawford schooling whomever guarded him. He beat Felton off the dribble and hit 3-pointers over Bell. His offbalance 3 over Felton put Golden State ahead 84-72 late in the third quarter.