Curry lines up tunnel shot, misses mark at new arena
Stephen Curry almost gave up, but he’s giving the tunnel shot another try.
Curry’s pregame tunnel heaves became a spectacle at Oracle Arena that attracted the attention of thousands of cameras and fans. The move to San Francisco’s Chase Center this season presented some obstacles for Curry to recreate that routine — mainly, geometry.
Before the Warriors’ season opener against the Clippers on Thursday, Curry tried and missed his shot attempt from his new tunnel.
At Oracle Arena, Curry’s tunnel shot came from the player’s tunnel perpendicular to the basket. For Curry, the angle provided a makable look. At Chase Center, the tunnels are situated behind the basket. It’s a diagonal runway to the corners of the court.
During the preseason, Curry tried shooting from one of these tunnels, but later decided it wouldn’t work.
“I did shed a tear about the tunnel shot,” Curry said after the Warriors’ first preseason game in the new arena. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I don’t think there’s an option.”
However, on Thursday, Curry punctuated his pregame shooting routine with a try from the corner tunnel, attempting to sink a basket from behind the backboard. Curry’s only try missed. Whether or not he’ll continue the routine is to be decided. It’s a much more difficult shot, and Curry may have wanted to try to give the fans in early attendance something special before the first regular season game at the new Chase Center.
The rest of his pregame shooting routine stuck to the script, and included making several shots from the logo at halfcourt. BUCKS BEAT ROCKETS IN WESTBROOK’S HOUSTON DEBUT » Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points before fouling out and his supporting cast held on to lead the visiting Milwaukee Bucks to a 117-111 victory over the Houston Rockets in a star-studded opener featuring the last three MVPs.
Antetokounmpo, the MVP last season, fouled out with about five minutes remaining.
Russell Westbrook, the 2017 MVP, had 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, James Harden, the 2018 MVP, added 19 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds. He was 2 of 13 from the field, 1 of 8 on 3s and made 14 free throws without a miss. TRAE YOUNG HAS 38 POINTS, HAWKS BEAT PISTONS » Trae Young had 38 points and nine assists, and the visiting Atlanta Hawks opened the season with a 117-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Vince Carter checked in for Atlanta with 6:52 left in the first quarter, becoming the first player to see action in 22 NBA seasons.
Derrick Rose led Detroit with 27 points. SUNS’ AYTON SUSPENDED FOR 25 GAMES » The Phoenix Suns plans for a quick rebuild have hit an unexpected snag. Center Deandre Ayton was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA for violating the terms of the NBA/ NBPA Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for a diuretic. The first overall pick last year out of Arizona, Ayton averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a rookie and was hoping to have a big jump in production in his second season.
He had 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks Wednesday night in the Suns’ season-opening home victory over Sacramento. KINGS’ BAGLEY OUT WITH THUMB INJURY » Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III will miss four to six weeks after injuring his thumb in the season opener. The Kings said that an MRI showed Bagley has a non- displaced fracture in his right thumb after getting hurt in a 124-95 loss at Phoenix.
Bagley had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the game.