Steph Curry cuts disappointed figure despite Golden State Warriors' win - "It’s really hard to win in this league; No lead is safe"
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors roared off to a 89-point first-half explosion before struggling to hold off the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The Warriors’ fun and free-flowing half was quickly forgotten, though, as the scrappy Sacramento team nearly pulled off a titanic upset against the defending champs.
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Curry shared his thoughts following the Warriors’ suddenly uncomfortable win:
“Honestly, right now, it doesn’t feel that good just ‘cause we got a lot of guys taking the court early in the season trying to build chemistry and experience and reps. These are some tough lessons.
“It’s really hard to win in this league. No lead is safe, it’s a game of runs, we all know that. … To really take pride in every minute you have out there, that’s a lesson we need to learn tonight moving forward.”
Steph says the win doesn't feel great after letting the Kings back into the game in the second half https://t.co/r37ijv8HL3
The Golden State Warriors followed a 39-point first quarter with a monstrous 50-point detonation, which was a franchise record for points in a quarter. Steph Curry was at the forefront of the onslaught as he dropped 28 of his 33 points in the initial 24 minutes of the game.
He scored 21 of the Warriors’ 50-point second-quarter production, leading his team to a 89-71 lead entering the second half of the game.
Steph Curry at halftime:
28 Points
69% FG
6/8 3PM
4/4 FTM https://t.co/JsIBut4Hl2
However, it went downhill for Steph Curry’s Warriors starting the second half. They’re the most dominating third-quarter team by a mile since the 2014-15 season but couldn’t sustain that against the Sacramento Kings.
Mike Brown, Steve Kerr’s top lieutenant with the Warriors in seasons past, pushed his team to fight back with pride.
The Kings surprisingly limited the Bay Area team to just 24 points while scoring 23 of their own. Sacramento pushed the Warriors hard in the fourth quarter. What was once a massive 26-point lead was cut down to just four points with a little over a minute left in the game.
The Warriors’ experience and timely baskets were just enough to keep the Kings at bay. Golden State is now 2-1 after picking up a 130-125 win, while the gritty Kings fell to 0-3.
The young players needed that type of game, according to Steph Curry
Steve Kerr and the coaching staff are expecting a significant leap from the team’s youngsters this season.
James Wiseman, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga have bigger responsibilities this season than ever. Kerr decided to give the young guns more exposure against the Sacramento Kings, particularly after the lead ballooned to 26.
Wiseman had a decent game against the Kings, finishing the night with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists. Golden State’s vertical game becomes ominous when the former No. 2 pick is on the floor with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Kuminga and Moody, however, struggled against the never-say-die mentality of the Kings. The former had four points while the latter had three in 18 minutes of play.
Here’s what Steph Curry had to say about what the young supporting cast can take away from the game:
“We make it look easy at times and that’s built over a decade of work and reps, so it’s really hard to win in this league and to sustain that; 48 minutes is a long time, every detail does matter. You have to feel it. Get exposed a little bit to understand what it means to win.”
Kuminga out there playing 4 w/Wiseman at 5. Along w/Moody, Thompson and Poole twitter.com/JDJohnDickinso…
The Golden State Warriors will not be too worried about their uneven play three games into the season. They’re counting on their veterans and young core to deliver in the games that matter and make a title repeat possible.