Short-handed Warriors bounce back to down Kings 113-98

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER

Steph Curry scored 30 in his first game back at Chase Center since becoming the NBA’s three point king, and Draymond Green recorded his first triple-double of the season to help lead the Warriors to a come-from-behind 113-98 win over the Sacramento Kings Monday night.

©DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Golden State’s Draymond Green puts up a shot around Buddy Hield Monday night during the Warriors 113-98 win over the Kings at Chase Center.

Both teams were shorthanded with numerous players sidelined by Covid protocols, including Warriors starters Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, along with Kings starters De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell, and Marvin Bagley III in addition to interim head coach Alvin Gentry.

©DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Steph Curry glides to the basket on the way to a game-high 30 points Monday night during the Warriors 113-98 win over Sacramento.

Golden State jumped out to a 15-point lead just after halftime, but went flat later in the third quarter as Sacramento surged to take their first lead of the game at 79-77 with just over a minute remaining in the stanza. But Curry would heat up with 13 points in the fourth, which combined with the dominating effort by Green (16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) and 18 points by Damion Lee (7-8) to turn the game around.

Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. each added 12, and Andre Iguodala also stepped up with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Sacramento was led by Tyrese Haliburton with 24 points and 11 assists, while Harrison Barnes added 19. Buddy Hield chipped in 18 on six 3-pointers.

©DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Jonathan Kuminga drives the lane against Sacramento’s Tyrese Haliburton in his second career start before leaving with with low back tightness during the Warriors win over the Kings Monday night.

Asked about Green’s energy level and Curry’s performance after the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr gushed; “No surprise that Draymond looked like he had the most energy out there given that he came back a few days ago and had a chance to get some rest and be in his own bed. A triple-double and just everywhere defensively. Quarterbacking the team. He’s just having a phenomenal year. He’s our emotional leader obviously, but he’s just so good defensively. Finds a way to get a blocked shot, to get a steal, to make the rotation that screws up the offensive possession, and then all of a sudden we’re getting out running and getting some momentum. He just has a knack for it. He’s been doing it a long time.”

About Curry, Kerr added; “I thought Steph had one of the great turnarounds in the fourth quarter. He’s got a knack for that. It’s a really unique skill to be able to turn what frankly is a very poor game for him into a dominant fourth quarter. Very few people can flip the game like that in the midst of a struggle. It takes supreme confidence to be able to do that. Steph’s fourth quarter was fantastic.”

Golden State will return to the court Thursday night for a game against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.

GAME NOTES:

Curry made four 3-pointers, extending his consecutive games streak with at least one 3-pointer to 154 games, three short of tying his NBA-record 157.

Golden State is now 30-1 in regular season games where Green records a triple-double.

The Warriors improved to 15-2 at Chase Center, the best home record in the NBA.

Golden State is now 14-0 this season when holding opponents under 100 points (9-0 at home).

The Warriors recorded a season-high nine blocked shots, including a career-high four by Otto Porter Jr.

About Daniel Gluskoter

Daniel Gluskoter is the Martinez Tribune's national music and sports editor and a Bay Area photojournalist who's work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2008 Presidential campaign as a correspondent for United Press International and has travelled worldwide covering events ranging from numerous Super Bowls and Olympics to Live Aid and the Grammys.

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