Leading as much as Game 3, Steve Kerr shared with Golden State’s gamers his favorite John Wooden quote of all time: “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”
He challenged the Warriors to take higher pictures and be extra cautious with the ball to restrict turnovers, and to rebound — rebound onerous and with coronary heart — then the reigning champions went out and dominated lacking two of their prime defenders, together with suspended star Draymond Green.
Stephen Curry scored 36 factors, Kevon Looney matched his profession excessive with 20 rebounds to go together with 9 assists, and Golden State bought proper again in its first- spherical playoff collection by thumping the Sacramento Kings 114-97 on Thursday night time to drag to 2-1.
“We’re a team with a lot of pride, we know how to respond when our back’s against the wall, we always usually show up,” Looney mentioned. “I think Draymond knew that. Without him playing he knew how we were going to respond. He knew he could count on us to hold down the fort while he’s out. We’re excited to get him back next game.”
The fiery ahead was suspended with out pay for stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis within the fourth quarter of Monday’s Game 2 at Golden 1 Center. The Warriors additionally have been with out key defensive stopper Gary Payton II after the guard turned in poor health Wednesday.
Curry shot 12 for 25 with six 3s whereas Andrew Wiggins added 20 factors and 7 rebounds for the Warriors, who by no means trailed and can now attempt to even the best- of-seven collection in Game 4 on Sunday again on their house courtroom at Chase Center.
Sabonis, who grabbed Green’s foot in the course of the play in query, was booed at each likelihood. The massive man underwent exams that exposed a bruised sternum however was in a position to follow Wednesday and cleared to play. He had 14 rebounds by halftime and 16 complete to go together with 15 factors. But Golden State’s smothering inside protection led to some spectacular performs on offense — Looney dealing with the majority of the load defending Sabonis.
“This is Loon, this is who he is, we’ve seen it in the playoffs for years now,“ Kerr said.
De’Aaron Fox was 5 for 14 in the first half for 12 points but finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Kings. Fox scored 62 in the first two games.
Jordan Poole — playing on a tender left ankle — started in Green’s place and had 16 points and five rebounds, while the Warriors also counted on contributions from Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Donte DiVincenzo.
Looney, who led the NBA in offensive rebounds and played in his 218th straight game, corralled a key board from the offensive glass that led to Curry’s 3 to beat the halftime buzzer and make it a double-digit Warriors lead at 53-41.
“Sometimes as a rebounder you can get in a zone just how Steph and them 3-point shooters get in a zone,” Looney mentioned.
Harrison Barnes added 17 factors in opposition to his outdated staff for Sacramento, whose followers have been advised to depart these noisy cowbells at house as a result of they’re banned at Chase Center. Warriors followers have been raucous in their very own proper sporting yellow “Gold Blooded” t-shirts and pounding Thunderstix.
“You have to understand that these guys aren’t going to lay down,” Barnes mentioned. “They have a lot of pride. They’ve won a championship. “
NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown, who received a shipment of new Vans sneakers, warned of what might happen if his Kings let down even in the slightest: “If we’re overconfident we’re going to get our behinds handed to us because these guys are champions.”
Curry and Co. confirmed it — a minimum of for one sport. He advised TNT afterward: “They say Draymond’s got a history, so do we.”
“I like the momentum that we created tonight, we just got to take advantage of it,” Curry mentioned, crediting his staff for “coming with the right energy to kind of prove that we can create some life for ourselves. Pretty bluntly if we lost this game it’s pretty much over.”
E-40 IS BACK
Rapper E-40 returned courtside for Game 3 fashionably late and trendy. He and Curry shared a celebratory embrace afterward.
The hip-hop star whose actual identify is Earl Stevens alleged “racial bias” after being kicked out of Game 1 at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center. He and the Kings put out a joint assertion Wednesday explaining there was a ’miscommunication’ and mentioned it was an “unfortunate misunderstanding” between each events.
TIP-INS
Kings: Sacramento shot 11 for 47 on 3s and was outrebounded 59-53. … The Kings made it to the free-throw line simply eight occasions within the preliminary two quarters and 23 for the sport.
Warriors: Klay Thompson had 13 factors on 5-for-15 capturing however hit two well timed pictures down the stretch. … Moody had 13 factors with a three-point play and dunk over a 38-second stretch late within the third.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
