The Golden State Warriors ended a five-game losing streak on Monday night, escaping Chase Center with a much-needed 116-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Anyone expecting the defending champions to re-stake their claim among the league's elite back home in the Bay Area, though, no doubt remains somewhat disappointed.
The Warriors trailed by 12 at halftime and 10 early in the fourth quarter. The bench quickly squandered another typically stellar start. Steve Kerr altered his updated rotation even further after halftime, never quite finding working combinations beyond his opening five.
Golden State could've very easily coughed up another loss, basically, the same issues that have plagued this team during its dispiriting start to 2022-23 once again proving too much to overcome.
Stephen Curry, though, just wasn't having it.
The reigning Finals MVP dropped 47 points, eight rebounds and eight assists on the Kings. He shot 17-of-24 overall and 7-of-12 from beyond the arc, averaging nearly two points per field goal attempt. Making Curry's epic night all the more impressive? He didn't commit a single turnover.
“I would just say that Steph was just breathtaking,” Kerr said. “He's obviously one of the greatest players of all time, and he plays so well on so many nights. But this even seemed like something special for him.”
Curry was on fire from the opening tip, hitting his first seven shots to help give the Warriors an early cushion. He was even better in the fourth quarter as Golden State was forced to fight from behind, willing his team to victory with 17 points—including seven straight in the last two minutes, giving the Warriors their first lead since late in the first quarter.
“He just put us on his back,” Kerr said. “…That was just Steph Curry deciding we were gonna win.”
Final frame meant it was 30's time to shine.@Verizon || Reliable Moments pic.twitter.com/Qo8v0vSVGK
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 8, 2022
There were other bright spots for Golden State on Monday.
Andrew Wiggins had 25 points and 10 rebounds, hitting a pair of crucial late-game threes. Klay Thompson hit a few key shots during the Warriors' arduous comeback. Draymond Green and Kevon Looney were so impactful—especially as compared to their backups—that Kerr separated their second-half minutes until crunch-time.
Just like Curry, though, the starters haven't been Golden State's problem over the first three weeks of the season, but borderline dominant. It's everything else that had the Warriors reeling in wake of a winless five-game road trip.
But the lingering frustration of another wholly uneven team-wide performance to the side. Golden State doesn't play again until Friday, giving the reigning champs valuable time to continue finding themselves on the practice floor—and Dub Nation even more opportunity to bask in an instant-classic night from Stephen Curry.
Follow Us
Subscribe