Steph Curry’s hilariously recalls viral full-court shot video as reason why he didn’t shoot well: “I used them all then, I didn’t make any tonight”
As Steph Curry logged his worst shooting night of the season, the Indiana Pacers went past the Golden State Warriors 112-104.
Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard scored a game-high 31 (13-for-21 shooting, five 3PM), Buddy Hield added 17 points and Jalen Smith scored 15 points in the win.
Coming off a night where they shot 52.9% from the field, and 48.1% from 3-point range, the Warriors had a dramatic decrease as they shot just 40.4% from the field and 29.5% from deep.
Other than Klay Thompson, no other player got it going from 3-point range. With Andrew Wiggins out with an adductor issue, coach Steve Kerr deployed the Warriors' three-guard lineup, however, both Poole and Steph Curry shot a combined 4 for 18 from the field.
In a postgame press conference, Steph Curry commented on his shooting night and a supposedly doctored video that showed him sinking five consecutive full-court heaves:
"Nobody believes I made five in a row from 90 feet. ... (On whether or not the video is real) I'll let the people be the judge of that but its an ultimate compliment to probably be amazed by it but not think its outlandish that it could be real, but, we had some fun with it.
"The Sports Illustrated team coming in with some heat. I did make two of them, if anybody was wondering. I used them all then, I didn't make any tonight."
“I did make two of them, though. I used them all then. I didn’t make any tonight.”
Steph Curry on his viral @SInow video 🤣 https://t.co/v3wsq9rv1q
Curry also commented on Nembhard's performance and what he did that made it tough for the Warriors to guard him:
"He played well and he was making shots, controlling the offense obviously, his statline's crazy.
"I think he controlled the flow to the point where they're getting their bigs involved in rolls, couple of lobs, they're kicking it out to shooters in the corner. He made enough plays down the stretch and with the spacing he had, took advantage of it."
Andrew Nembhard was drafted 31st overall in the 2022 NBA draft, prior to which he played college basketball for Gonzaga.
Inconsistency from bench, starters costing Steph Curry and Co. close games
The fact that the Warriors bench is an issue isn't hard to glean. The easiest way to validate this inference is by looking at their home and away record. The thing to keep in mind is that bench and role players play better at home than on the road.
The loss against the Pacers marked the Warriors' second home loss this season, and are now tied with the Celtics for the second-best home record (11-2) in the league. Their away record, on the other hand, is the third worst in the league at 2-10.
If the starters fail to perform well, the bench has to show up. But the bench won't get shots until it earns the coach's trust. On Monday, Anthony Lamb, Jonathan Kuminga, JaMychal Green, Moses Moody and Donte DiVincenzo combined took as many shots as Jordan Poole.
The starters were 25-for-71 (35.2%) and the bench, 13-for-21 (57.1%). This disparity in field-goal attempts will only change when bench players become more consistent.
In clutch situations, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Wiggins and Poole, in that order, will likely be the ones shooting the ball. But if some of them hit a rough patch, as they did last night, the Warriors will inevitably lose in close games down the stretch.
Dubs fans will fondly remember the Christmas win over the Phoenix Suns last December, and will also remember that it was Otto Porter Jr.'s fourth-quarter heroics that lifted them past the Suns. The Warriors desperately need some of that this season.