CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Hornets have placed the teams future personnel decisions in the hands of Rich Cho after Rod Higgins has stepped down as the teams president of basketball operations on Friday. Higgins had been with the team for the last seven years. Hornets owner Michael Jordan thanked Higgins in a statement. "Rod has been a consummate professional throughout his time with the team," Jordan said. "Thanks to his hard work and commitment, we have an improved roster and we are poised for success in the future. Rod was of great help to me as I navigated my first four years as majority owner of this franchise. I wish him all the best." Cho will remain in his capacity as general manager and assume responsibility for the teams basketball operations, according to a press release issued by the team. Cho will report to Jordan and vice chairman Curtis Polk. Cho declined comment through team spokesman Mike Cristaldi. The move comes two weeks before the NBA draft and what is expected to be a busy off-season for the Hornets. The Hornets have the ninth, 24th and 45th overall picks and more than $13 million to spend under the salary cap. Jordan has already said the team hopes to make a "big difference" in upgrading the roster this off-season. Higgins declined comment on the matter via text message to The Associated Press. Coach Steve Clifford, entering his second season with the Hornets, said he had a great working relationship with Higgins. "He helped me a lot -- helped our staff a lot. He is a terrific basketball guy and a great person, and were going to miss him," Clifford said. "With that being said, you know change is a big part of this league. We need to quickly focus and move forward and continue to build the right culture, roster, so we can be a good team year in and year out." When Jordan took over as part owner in Charlotte in 2006, Higgins was one of his first hires the following year. Hes long been one of Jordans most trusted friends. Jordan was a rookie in the 1984 when he joined the Chicago Bulls and became teammates with Higgins, a veteran forward at the time. After a 13-year NBA career, Higgins went on to work with Jordan as an assistant general manager with the Washington Wizards. Higgins later left the Wizards to become general manager of the Golden State Warriors before joining Jordan again in Charlotte. Cho was hired by Jordan in 2011 as Charlottes new general manager and Higgins title became president of basketball operations. From that time, the two shared player personnel duties and regularly appeared together and press conference to discuss personnel moves with the media. Clifford said hes confident Cho will do a great job moving forward. "Rich is very organized, on top of things," Clifford said. "I know well be prepared, we will be prepared for the draft, for free agency and you know just like we have in the past. 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They claim only three are delayed, with the other three being handed over after the expected date only because of problems accommodating the schedule of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who wants to be present for the ceremonies. OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors have created space behind them in the crowded Western Conference standings and are showing no signs of slowing down their surge up the standings. Jordan Crawford scored 19 points, Andrew Bogut had 15 points and 10 rebounds and the Warriors routed the Dallas Mavericks 108-85 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win. Golden State (41-24) is sixth in the West, three games ahead of Dallas (38-27) and Memphis (37-26). The Warriors also are four games behind the Clippers (45-20) in the Pacific Division, with the final meeting between the teams this season looming large in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. "Its a big-time win for us," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "If you lose this game, then all of the sudden theres three teams again within striking distance. I think this gave us some breathing room, especially with the fact that we have a big game (Wednesday) night against a red-hot Clippers team." Former Warriors fan favourite Monta Ellis scored 15 points, and Dirk Nowitzki had 12 points and six rebounds in a disappointing display by Dallas. The Warriors outshot the Mavericks 51.2 per cent to 36.6 per cent and outrebounded Dallas 46-40 en route to building a 24-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Dallas and Golden State both have 17 games remaining. "I dont think we are in a situation to think about seeding," said Mavericks guard Jose Calderon, who had 13 points and five assists. "I think right now were in a situation where weve got to win every game." The Warriors, who finished 47-35 last year to earn the conferences sixth playoff seed, are aiming higher this time. The Warriors are 10-2 since the All-Star break and a season-high 17 games over .500. After winning 10 consecutive games earlier this season, Golden State is gaining steam again. In the latest matchup pivotal for playoff positioning, the Warriors shook off a slow start by clamping down on defence and pushing the pace. The Warriors ended the first quarter on a 21-6 run capped by Crawfords long jumper as time expired to take a 29-22 lead. But the backup guard was just beginning his sizzling stretch -- and so were the Warriors. Crawford scored 12 points alone inn the second quarter, finishing with the most points hes scored since coming to Golden State in a trade from Boston in January.dddddddddddd. The Warriors reserves outscored Dallas bench 59 to 37. "Its fun," Crawford said. "To be on a streak like this heading into the playoffs and to move up the standings, it brings the competitive spirit out in everybody." The starters showed up with big plays, too. During one sequence, Andre Iguodala blocked Shawn Marions layup, then ran the length of the court to dunk Stephen Currys missed 3-pointer, sending most in the announced sellout crowd of 19,596 roaring to their feet. Bogut also finished an alley-hoop with one hand over Ellis, the player he was traded for from Milwaukee in March 2012. The Mavericks still managed to end the half with some momentum. Nowitzki made two free throws before Vince Carter stole Iguodalas inbounds pass and hit a 3-pointer before the buzzer sounded to slice Golden States lead to 55-44 at the break. Nowitzki later moved into a tie with John Havlicek for 12th place on the NBAs career scoring list. Both have 26,395 points. The Warriors defence dominated Dallas for most of the third and fourth quarters, though, smothering Nowitzki and closing out fast on shooters. The Warriors went ahead 81-57 with 11:29 remaining and never let the Mavericks move much closer. Golden State improved to 2-1 against Dallas this season, with each team winning on its home floor. They meet for the final time this season on April 1 in Dallas. "As far as the seeding," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said, "thats a distraction from the task at hand, which is making sure were as ready as we can be." NOTES: Curry, who is dealing with a strained right quadriceps thats limiting his playing time, had 10 points and four assists in 22 minutes. ... Mavericks backup guard Devin Harris left in the second quarter with a sore right Achilles tendon and did not return. Harris said he doesnt think the injury is serious but isnt sure if hell play Wednesday night at Utah. ... Mavericks F Jae Crowder, who strained his abdominal muscle in a win over Indiana on Sunday, is not expected to rejoin the team until at least Sunday at Oklahoma City. ' ' '