Warriors say they’re ready to shake off loss

OAKLAND, Calif. — One good beating per series is plenty for Draymond Green and Golden State.

The Warriors got it in Game 2 at Houston, and now the defending champions plan to do what they seem to do best: bounce back with brilliance.

As the Western Conference finals shift to Oracle Arena for Game 3 on Sunday, tied at one game apiece, the Warriors have spent the past few days discussing Game 2 and what they’re striving to do in order not to be dominated again.

“I think we’re at our best when we feel threatened,” the Golden State forward said on Saturday. “Game 1 we felt threatened, we came out with a sense of urgency. Game 2 we maybe didn’t feel as threatened and the sense of urgency wasn’t there. I think you’re allowed one of those a series. We’ve had our one, now it’s time to lock in for the remainder of the series.”

And for the Warriors that starts on the defensive end against Chris Paul, James Harden and company, because when they get stops it allows Golden State to get going in transition and find open looks from three-point range that weren’t there during a Forward Draymond Green, fouling the Rockets’ Clint Capela in Game 2, says the Warriors need to “lock in” for the rest of the Western Conference finals after suffering a 22-point loss on Wednesday. 127-105 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday. That was largely because the Rockets had ample time to set their defense following made baskets.

Houston is making sure not to get too high from its impressive result after losing Game 1 119-106.

“Feels like Game 2 was a week ago now. That’s how it is in the playoffs,” Paul said. “I heard somebody say when you lose a game in the playoffs, you feel like you’re never going to win again, and when you win, you feel like you’re never going to lose again. We’ve done a great job all year staying even-keeled.”

The task gets tougher for the Rockets at one of the league’s most imposing venues. Golden State has won an NBA record-tying 15 straight postseason home games, matching the Chicago Bulls’ mark from April 27, 1990, to May 21, 1991.

“It’s a series. We’re not going to knock them out in one game,” Warriors forward Kevin Durant said. “Bad games happen throughout playoff series, throughout a season, throughout a career. So just move on, keep getting better and see what happens next game.”

And the Warriors aren’t worried about Curry rediscovering his shooting rhythm after making only two three-pointers — one in each game — so far this series.

“I only need one, that’s all I need,” Curry said. “Actually I might not need any because hopefully that first one that I shoot in Game 3 goes in, so I don’t really need any.”