14-win streak ends, and that’s OK
During the Warriors’ huddle at the end of the third quarter, Steve Kerr told Stephen Curry that his night was done.
It came as a surprise to the two-time reigning NBA MVP. He knew Kerr had all of Golden State’s core players on a minutes limit, but couldn’t circumstances force the head coach to adjust? The game was tied with 12 minutes left.
“I actually expected to play a little bit in the fourth,” Curry said after the Warriors’ 105-99 loss to the Jazz at Oracle Arena on Monday. “It kind of catches you off guard, but you obviously have to realize the big picture.”
Golden State, which last week secured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, entered its penultimate game of the
regular season more concerned about the process than the result. By that measure, Monday was as feel-good as a loss that snapped a 14-game winning streak could be.
Curry was sensational, needing only 16 shots and 30 minutes to pour in a game-high 28 points. The bench, led by JaVale McGee (11 points) and David West (eight), again was a worthy complement. Only two nights after making his triumphant return to game action, Durant showed signs of progress.
The eight-time All-Star, though far from dominant, finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in nearly 33 minutes. In his second game since returning from the left knee injury that sidelined him five-plus weeks, he again played more than any of his teammates.
Late in the third quarter, Durant crossed over Utah guard Dante Exum, knifed through the key and threw down a onehanded slam. A capacity crowd erupted as he landed and unleashed a roar.
It was only minutes later when, early in the fourth quarter, Durant drove past Utah’s Joe Ingles up the baseline before hammering home a one-handed dunk over 6-foot-9 Joel Bolomboy. In those two highlights, Durant sent an emphatic message: Gone was the timid player worried about re-injuring himself.
“It felt really good, man — I can’t lie,” Durant said of the two driving dunks. “I was a little hesitant early on in these first few games about just exploding off and making moves that I normally make. It seems like both second halves of these last two games, I’ve just been like, ‘Forget it. Go out and try some stuff.’ ”
The hope was that, with Curry and Durant playing together for the first time since Feb. 28, Golden State would deliver a cohesive performance as Kerr ironed out his rotation for the playoffs. Kerr rested Klay Thompson, who averages a team-high 34.1 minutes per game. Even a Utah team that is jostling with the Clippers for home-court advantage in the first round seized the opportunity to sit core players.
Rodney Hood rested and Gordon Hayward (left quadriceps contusion) sat for precautionary reasons. George Hill, initially expected to miss the game with a right groin strain, was made available and placed on a minutes restriction but scored 20 points in 19 minutes.
Curry and Draymond Green didn’t re-enter after sitting with the score tied at 74-74 at the end of the third. Midway through the fourth, as Golden State nursed an 81-80 lead, Durant joined his fellow All-Stars on the bench. By that point, the Warriors had assuaged Kerr’s worries: Curry maintained his brilliance with Durant in the lineup; Durant looked healthy, and the team executed with relative precision on both ends.
It was of little consequence that Golden State’s reserves couldn’t stave off the Jazz down the stretch as the NBA’s longest winning streak this season came to an end. Golden State views its regular-season finale Wednesday against the lowly Lakers as a dress rehearsal.
“It’s going to take some time,” Kerr, laying on the sarcasm, said when asked for his reaction to Monday’s loss. “Maybe a summer. Just try and get away for a little bit. Somehow, someway try and regroup.”