On Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings 114-97 in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series to pull within 2-1 of the series. Stephen Curry led the team in scoring 36 points, and Kevon Looney matched his career high with 20 rebounds and nine assists.
The reigning champions could prevail even without the participation of the suspended star Draymond Green, just as they had done so many times in the past. In the fourth quarter of Monday’s Game 2 at the Golden 1 Center, the feisty forward stepped on Domantas Sabonis’ chest, which led to his suspension without pay. Due to the guard’s illness on Wednesday, the Warriors were also without important defensive stopper Gary Payton II.
Andrew Wiggins added 20 points and seven boards for the Warriors, who never trailed and will now attempt to even the best-of-seven series when they return to their home floor at Chase Center for Game 4 on Sunday. Curry finished 12 for 25 with six three-pointers.
At every opportunity, the crowd jeered at Sabonis, who had grasped Green’s foot during the play. Despite having a bruised sternum, the big man trained on Wednesday and was given the all-clear to play. Tests were performed. Together with his 15 points, he collected a total of 16 rebounds before the halftime break. On the other hand, Golden State’s suffocating interior defense allowed for some great plays by their offense.
De’Aaron Fox shot only 5 of 14 from the field for 12 points in the first half, but he completed the game with 26 points, ten rebounds, and nine assists for the Kings. Fox had a combined score of 62 in the first two games.
In Green’s absence, Jordan Poole began for the Warriors and finished with 16 points and five rebounds. The Warriors also had contributions from Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Donte DiVincenzo. Green played despite having soreness in his left ankle.
Looney, who led the NBA in offensive rebounds and was playing in his 218th consecutive game, grabbed a vital board off the offensive glass, which led to Curry’s three-point shot that beat the halftime buzzer and made it a double-digit lead for the Warriors (53-41) at the end of the first half.
During the game against his former squad, Harrison Barnes contributed 17 points for the Kings, whose supporters were asked to silence their cowbells at home since the Chase Center does not permit their usage. Warriors supporters were rowdy and boisterous in their manner, wearing yellow t-shirts that said “Gold Blooded” and banging Thunderstix.
In the moments leading up to Game 3, head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors told his squad his favorite John Wooden phrase of all time: “Be swift, but don’t rush.” He has encouraged the Warriors to utilize this phrase to improve their shot selection and be more cautious with the ball to reduce their turnovers.
He received the impression that the Warriors were in a rush and raced to make a play, which caused them to commit unnecessary errors.
They were the same as before in this one.
NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown, whose team just got a delivery of new Vans shoes, issued a stern warning about the potential consequences that may arise if his players slacked down in any way: Since these individuals are champions, we are going to have our asses given to us if we act like we’re better than we are.
Curry and his associates ensured it.
E-40 IS BACK
The rapper E-40 made his courtside comeback for Game 3 fashionably late and trendy.
The hip-hop singer, whose actual name is Earl Stevens, claimed that he was the victim of “racial bigotry” after being ejected from Game 1 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. He and the Kings released a joint statement on Wednesday, explaining that there had been a “miscommunication,” They called the situation an “unfortunate misunderstanding” between both sides.
When asked whether he was content with the Kings’ reaction, he responded on Thursday by saying, “We’re Alright, can’t complain.”
When Curry went to the tunnel just after the final bell, he and E-40 celebrated their victory with a jubilant hug.
TIP-INS
Kings: The Kings were beaten in rebounding by a 60-53. Sacramento made 11 of 46 3-point attempts. The Kings could only go to the free throw line 23 times during the whole game but just eight times in the first two quarters.
Wiggins had a remarkable run for the Warriors in the second quarter, starting with a block and ending with a 3-pointer. Moody completed the game with 13 points and made a three-point play and a slam inside a span of 38 seconds late in the third quarter that propelled Golden State into the lead, 76-63. Klay Thompson had a somewhat quiet game, scoring 13 points on 5-for-15 shooting, but he did make a couple of clutch baskets in the final minutes.
