Warriors beat Kings 114-97 Without Green With Curry’s 36 Points

(CTN News) – “Be quick, but not hurried.” was Steve Kerr’s favorite John Wooden quote heading into Game 3.

As the Warriors were challenged to take better shots, be more careful with the ball, and rebound – rebound hard and with heart – then dominated without two of their top defenders, including suspended star Draymond Green.

In their first-round playoff series, the Golden State Warriors are within one game of 2-1 after beating the Sacramento Kings 114-97 on Thursday night. The Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored 36 points, and Kevon Looney had 20 rebounds.

We always show up even when the chips are down,” Looney said. “We take pride in what we do.” Draymond must have known that. He knew our response without him playing. As long as he’s out, we’ll hold the fort for him. He’ll be back next game, and we’re excited to see him.”

The fiery forward was suspended without pay for stepping on Domantas Sabonis‘ chest during Game 2 at Golden 1 Center on Monday. After becoming ill on Wednesday, Warriors defensive stopper Gary Payton II was also out.

In Game 4, Curry will try to even the best-of-seven series back on Chase Center on Sunday by shooting 12 for 25 and making six threes. Wiggins added 20 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors, who never trailed.

At every chance, Sabonis was booed for grabbing Green’s foot during the play in question. In tests, the big man was found to have bruised his sternum, but was cleared to play and practice on Wednesday. Besides 15 points, he had 14 rebounds by halftime. Despite Golden State’s smothering interior defense, Looney handled the bulk of the load defending Sabonis.

“This is Loon, he’s always been this way in the playoffs,” Kerr explained.

The Kings’ De’Aaron Fox finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in the first half. The first two games saw Fox score 62 points.

With Green out due to an ankle injury, the Warriors had Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Donte DiVincenzo contribute as well.

Curry’s 3 that beat the halftime buzzer and made it a double-digit Warriors lead at 53-41 came off a key board collected by Looney, who led the NBA in offensive rebounds.

The same way Steph and those three-point shooters get in a zone, you can get in a zone as a rebounder.

Despite being banned from Chase Center, Harrison Barnes added 17 points against his former team. Fans of the Warriors wore yellow “Gold Blooded” t-shirts and pounded Thunderstix.

“These guys won’t lay down,” Barnes said. “They have a lot of pride. They won a championship.”

“If we’re overconfident, we’ll get our behinds handed to us because these guys are champions,” said NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown.

It was evident for at least one game, thanks to Curry and his teammates. According to him, Draymond and we both have a history.

We just need to take advantage of the momentum,” Curry said, crediting his team for “coming with the right energy to prove that we can create some life for ourselves.”

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