The Golden State Warriors are well aware that even the lowliest opponents are salivating at the chance to knock them off, and they got another reminder in the opener to a three-game trip. For once, Curry was colder than the intro he received, going 5-of-17 for 13 points, the first time he’s had fewer points than shots in a full game this season. However, that wasn’t the case as the Warriors needed a three-pointer from Harrison Barnes with less than second to go in regulation to escapee Philadelphia with a 108-105 victory.
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After going undefeated in his first week back on the bench, Steve Kerr offered some perspective on what it means to him to coach the Warriors.
“He broke the clipboard and then threw it”, Green recalled.
Klay Thompson and Draymond Green led the way for the Warriors.
Guard Stephen Curry added 23 points for Golden State, and forward Draymond Green finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. The Warriors extended their lead by winning the quarter 27-16.
Green, who leads the league in triple-doubles, matched Hall of Famer Tom Gola’s total from the 1959-60 season. And for evidence, just listen to some of what the National Basketball Association champs had to say after their narrow escape. “They got to a level they are capable of getting to and created some separation”.
Reserve guard Brandon Jennings led the way for the Pistons with 22 points, while Andre Drummond had 11 points and 12 rebounds for an NBA-leading 39th double-double.
Jeff Green scored 29 points, Marc Gasol had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists, and the Memphis Grizzlies thwarted a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Sacramento Kings.
Context is everything. As Rosie Perez once said in White Men Can’t Jump, “Sometimes when you win, you really lose”. “He expects perfection and we’re never there”. Defensively, the Warriors yield 102.5 points against the opposing teams. “That’s why they’re a good team”.
Sure, the Warriors squeaked out a victory-and looked very good at times in the process-but consider their foe: the Sixers, who are running screaming towards the top pick in this summer’s draft. He coached St. John’s in its 68-53 loss to No. 6 Villanova earlier Sunday at Madison Square Garden….
The Warriors will visit John Wall and the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
Center Festus Ezeli missed a third straight game because of a sore left knee and was scheduled to be re-evaluated Monday after the results of an MRI exam had been inconclusive, according to Kerr. Fisher said the Knicks hope he can play Tuesday against Boston, but it’s more likely he won’t return until Thursday or Friday….
What will it take for the Knicks to avoid the latter in that scenario?
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Curry has been part of the history, scoring at least 20 points in each of his past eight matchups with the Knicks, including pouring in a career-high 54 points and recording a triple-double at the Garden. He got his numbers Sunday in the flow of the game.
