For the first time during their dynastic run, the Golden State Warriors found themselves in a 2-0 series hole heading into Game 3 of their series against the in-state rival Sacramento Kings Thursday evening.
People were already writing the Warriors off after they lost the first two games in Sacramento. The dynasty was over. The upstart Kings would head into San Francisco’s Chase Center and win Thursday evening to take a 3-0 series lead.
About that?
Even without Draymond Green in the mix after he was suspended for this one, Golden State came out and strangled the Kings’ league-best scoring offense with dynamic defense. That included Sacramento scoring just 41 points in the first half. Despite the Warriors’ issues shooting in the first half, they led by nine at intermission. That was largely due to turning the ball over just six times through two quarters after having 22 in Game 2.
Golden State and Sacramento would then get going on offense in the third quarter, each scoring 31 points. Going back to their championship pedigree, two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry started to do his thing from beyond the three-point line while taking the Kings off the dribble.
As Curry found his way up to No. 17 on the all-time NBA Playoff scoring list, the Warriors were smelling blood. Dominant defense turned into transition points.
Youngsters such as Jordan Poole (16 points) and Moses Moody (13 points) stepped up. Defensively, Golden State held Sacramento to 38% shooting while they recorded just 21 assists and turned the ball over 15 times. The end result was a resounding 114-97 Warriors win to make this a series.
Golden State Warriors championship ways showed in Game 3
To be fair, Sacramento’s defense was darn good throughout a majority of the game. The Warriors shot just 16-of-50 from three-point range. Mike Brown had his team ready to play. The execution just wasn’t there in what was an electric atmosphere.
With that said, the Dubs displayed their championship pedigree with Green sidelined to suspension. Once Klay Thompson nailed a three with just over six minutes remaining to put the Warriors up 20, this game was done.
Four-time champion Stephen Curry went for 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting, including 6-of-12 from three-point range. While Thompson only scored 13 points in the game, consecutive buckets midway through the final stanza put this one away. Underrated center Kevon Looney starred in the low post again, recording 20 rebounds with nine assists.
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A major question heading into the NBA Playoffs, the Golden State Warriors’ undermanned bench also came to play against Sacramento. Moody, Donte DiVincenzo and Jonathan Kuminga scored a combined 25 points.
For Steve Kerr’s squad, a loss Thursday night would have put an end to their dynasty. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in the NBA Playoffs to win a series. Kerr knew what this game was all about heading in, especially after Green’s suspension was announced.
“There’s no time to spend worrying about it, thinking about it or complaining. We know what the league decided to do and we have to respond accordingly. We just have to move on,” Steve Kerr on Golden State Warriors heading into Game 3.
Must-win home games in the NBA Playoffs are a thing that champions get up for. We saw it with the Milwaukee Bucks in their Game 2 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
Even without Green in the mix, Golden State displayed this in more ways than one as they brought this series to 2-1 heading into Sunday’s huge home outing at the Chase Center. That game will see the Golden State Warriors return Green to action with star reserve Gary Payton II also likely to be on the court after missing Game 3.