The Golden State Warriors held a comfortable 18-point advantage midway through the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz on Monday night, and it looked like they were going to cruise to the victory. This is the 2020-21 Warriors, though, and this is a team that has choked away a number of games in heartbreaking fashion.
Golden State gave up that 18-point advantage and was on the verge of losing thanks to a red-hot stretch by Jordan Clarkson, only for Stephen Curry to hit a clutch 3-pointer to give them the lead for good. Clarkson wasn't able to play hero in the final minute after getting the Jazz back in the game, with the Warriors ultimately pulling out a 119-116 win.
Afterward, Curry acknowledged a “good learning lesson in a win.” The Warriors star opened up even more on the need to really dial in for the play-in tournament and potentially the playoffs beyond that. They can't afford to lose focus in these moments, because it can cost the team the season.
Via Anthony Slater of The Athletic:
“You need to understand, once you get to the playoffs, get ready for moments when you have control of the game, what you need to do to maintain that,” Curry said. “Draymond talked about it after the game. There are certain things that don’t really jump off the screen when you watch. You might give a guy a certain look if you don’t rotate or you might lose a little focus and give them a good rhythm jumper and all of a sudden an avalanche starts.”
Clarkson put together an awful first three quarters, but then he went absolutely bonkers in the fourth quarter. The Jazz guard scored 24 of his 41 points in the final frame and nearly ruined the Warriors' night.
Curry knows his team can't fall asleep like that and let a guy get going after building up a big lead. That “avalanche” nearly buried Golden State on Monday, and it's a good lesson to learn moving forward.
Follow Us
Subscribe