What we discovered as Dubs fumble lead, lose in OT to Celtics initially appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Warriors this season have had quite a few dangerous losses. Thursday evening in Boston was not one among them.
Though the Warriors had been outlasted in extra time, dropping to the Boston Celtics 121-118 at TD Garden, the Warriors despatched a message to the remainder of the NBA. Whoever faces the Warriors within the playoffs, they are going to be sweating. Now, the Warriors after all have to get to the postseason first earlier than any of that speak can start.
Leading by seven factors going into the fourth quarter, the Warriors fell aside when it mattered most. They had been held to solely 17 factors after exploding for 34 within the third. Between the fourth quarter and extra time, the Warriors had been outscored by 10 factors.
That’s not what champions do.
Steph Curry led the Warriors with 29 factors, adopted by 24 apiece from Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole. Andrew Wiggins scored 15 of his 20 factors after halftime, and Draymond Green almost had a triple-double with 11 factors, 13 rebounds and 9 assists.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors falling to 22-23 on the season.
Small vs. Big
Steve Kerr made a shock tweak to his beginning lineup 20 minutes earlier than tipoff. The Celtics went huge with Al Horford and Robert Williams each beginning, so Kerr did the alternative. For the primary time this season, Kevon Looney wasn’t one of many 5 Warriors standing on the ground to start the sport.
Instead, Kerr inserted Poole, together with Curry, Thompson, Wiggins and Green. That gave the Warriors a scoring benefit with 4 shooters, however a dimension drawback. What had been the outcomes?
Right from the start, it was clear this was going to be a sport of contrasting type. The Warriors led by one level after the primary quarter, during which that they had a 15-point benefit from 3-point vary. In that first quarter, although, the Celtics outscored the Warriors 20-2 within the paint. The Celtics completed with 16 extra rebounds than the Warriors and scored 22 extra factors within the paint than them.
Story continues
Golden State did rating 15 extra factors from past the arc, and Looney nonetheless grabbed 12 rebounds off the bench. It can be very attention-grabbing to see how a lot Kerr tinkers along with his starters going ahead.
Size ought to quickly be on the best way. Kerr relayed earlier than the sport that he is “hopeful” Jonathan Kuminga and JaMychal Green can play Friday in Cleveland, however James Wiseman is predicted to overlook his tenth straight sport to a sprained ankle.
Boston Enemy No. 1
Like Johnny F’in Damon and Bucky F’in Dent as soon as had been for the Boston Red Sox, each Celtics fan needs to be sick of seeing Steph Curry. His halftime heave from behind half-court to present the Warriors a one-point lead was the newest one instance.
Curry gave the Celtics nightmares on their dwelling court docket final season within the NBA Finals. Over the Warriors’ three Finals video games in Boston, Curry averaged 36.0 factors, 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists whereas capturing 55.1 % from the sphere, 52.8 % from deep and 92.9 % from the free-throw line. He saved the Warriors’ season alive in Game 4 and ended the Celtics’ season in Game 6.
In his first sport again, Curry’s efficiency was up and down. Curry scored 29 factors with seven rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and two blocks. The sharpshooter additionally went 9-for-25 and 6-for-18 on 3-pointers. Good, not nice.
He additionally tried to play hero on the finish of regulation, which wasn’t the precise name on this case. Curry had Thompson open within the nook and will have tried to drive to no less than get fouled. There can be rather a lot that Curry needs he might take again when reviewing the tape.
More than something, Celtics followers certain are pleased they do not should see Steph once more … till a potential Finals rematch.
Locked Up, Again
Jayson Tatum, who has put up MVP-like numbers this season, averaged 21.5 factors vs. the Warriors within the Finals. Efficient he was not.
The Celtics star shot 36.7 % from the sphere and turned the ball over 3.8 instances per sport. Earlier this season when the Warriors beat the Celtics by 16 factors at Chase Center, Tatum scored solely 18 factors whereas going 6-for-21 general and 2-for-9 from 3-point vary. While he stuffed the field rating Thursday evening, Tatum once more was removed from environment friendly.
RELATED: Warriors reportedly will “nibble” at NBA commerce deadline
He scored 34 factors with 19 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Tatum scored 12 of his factors on free throws. His shot was off all evening, going 9-for-27 from the sphere and 4-for-13 on 3-pointers. As the Warriors face extra stars sooner or later, Tatum can be one to check.
Wiggins’ shot is not again but. But his two-way skill is rounding into type.
Download and observe the Dubs Talk Podcast
