No shortage of support for Curry
Star continues his hot shooting with 32 points, but Thompson, Green shine with Durant out again, and bench scores 41 points
OAKLAND >> From seemingly any distance and at any time, the Warriors scored almost anytime they shot the ball.
For the past two games, Stephen Curry usually only did this. No one else. But in the Warriors’ 124-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday at Oracle Arena, everyone joined the party.
Curry still led the show with 32 points, while shooting 9 of 17 from the field, 5 of 10 from 3-point range and a 9 of 10 mark from the free-throw line. He had plenty of help, though, as the Warriors (328) posted 38 assists, marking the eighth consecutive game they had at least 30.
“Lots of open shots that didn’t go; that’s what happens,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of the team’s shooting struggles on Saturday against the Clippers. “This is more like our team. Actually I thought we got better shots last game than we did tonight.”
In either case, those shots went in the basket. Warriors forward
Draymond Green nearly posted another triple double (23 points, 10 assists, five rebounds), while keeping his composure with the officials (mostly). Warriors guard Klay Thompson overcame a rare off night against the Los Angeles Clippers, posting 19 points while going 8 of 17 from the field and 3 of 6 from the perimeter. With
Kevin Durant sidelined for the third consecutive game because of a strained right calf that Kerr said “didn’t quite feel right” during morning shootaround, the Warriors’ bench offered a combined 41 points.
Make no mistake, though. Things still mostly centered on Curry.
“For anybody else, you look at the box score and say 32 points and nine assists. But I didn’t think he played that well,” Kerr said. “But this is Steph Curry. On a night where he is not maybe at his best, he’s still dominating the game in parts.”
Kerr pointed out Curry’s six turnovers, as well as missing four of his first five shots.
“Every game is not going to be pretty. I love being held to that high standard,” Curry said. “That’s what keeps me motivated. When you can look at that line and find things I can do better. Nobody needs to tell me that. I already know.”
Regardless, Curry still led the charge.
After the Nuggets opened the third quarter on a 10-5 run to the tie the game at 69-69 with 6:57 left, Curry played a large part in exerting the Warriors’ dominance. He posted 13 thirdquarter points while making four of his five shots and nailing all three of his 3-point attempts. Curry also fueled the Warriors’ 13-6 run to close out the third quarter with a 93-81 lead. After making a 3-pointer in transition to give the Warriors a 91-77 lead with 56.1 seconds left, Curry performed a shimmy move.
Curry also survived an injury scare when he strained his left knee early in the game. But he only needed to get the knee taped before turning shortly afterwards. Curry even performed a somersault after drawing a foul on a made layup. Afterward, Curry said he knee felt “fine” and attributed the injury to “wear and tear.”
Nonetheless, the Warriors still managed when Curry was not at his best. After posting a season-low in points in a loss to Denver on Dec. 23, the Warriors’ depth returned to life.
• Green has yet another reason to feel upset with the NBA.
The league fined Green $25,000 on Monday for criticizing the officiating. Green, who has a leagueleading 11 technical fouls this season, will serve a one-game suspension without pay if he is called for five more technical fouls.
“I’m a pretty smart guy, I like to think,” Green said. “Picking and choosing your spots, kin d of knowing what to do, what not to do , when to do it, when not to do it. Being a little wiser.”
Still, the Warriors believed officials may not recognize that.
“He has a certain mannerism about him, a certain disposition that is different than other people, just off the jump,” Curry said. “I’ve been out on the court when you’re just looking around, like, ‘Why did he get a tech? He didn’t say anything. He didn’t do anything demonstrative.’”
• In a world of hot takes, Kerr offered a nuanced perspective on outspoken parent LaVar Ball criticizing Lakers coach Luke Walton for both his coaching and how he has handled his son, rookie point guard Lonzo Ball.
“Somewhere LaVar is laughing at all of us. People are eating out of his hands for no apparent reasons other than he has become the Kardashian in the NBA,” Kerr said. “That sells. That’s what is true in politics, entertainment and now in sports. It doesn’t matter if there’s any substance involved with any issues. It’s just, ‘Can we make it really interesting for no apparent reason?’”
LaVar Ball contended that “Luke doesn’t have control of the team no more. They don’t want to play for him.” LaVar Ball also critiqued Walton for how he has handled his son’s playing time, “If he’s ready to play, let him play. Don’t try and monitor no minutes, put on restrictions.”
“I feel horrible for Luke. That’s my guy,” Kerr said. “That’s one of my best friends. He shouldn’t have to deal with this.”
• Curry reiterated he remains “very interested” in becoming a part of the Carolina Panthers’ ownership group.
“I’ve had plenty of conversations with people about the right way to go about it,” Curry said. “Obviously I have a day job, but I got people that are plugged in and trying to see and make that happen.”
Curry’s interest has become notable after former Panthers owner Jerry Richardson recently announced he would sell the team after a Sports Illustrated story unearthed numerous sexual harassment allegations.
Curry grew up cheering for his hometown team since he was seven years old up. Curry has recently spoken out on social issues, most notably President Donald Trump. And though nearly 70 percent of black players represent the NFL, the league has never had a black owner.
“Knowing and having an opportunity to break that trend and stat, why not? That’s a pretty powerful opportunity and one that I know doesn’t come around that often,” Curry said. “There’s not a lot of turnover in NFL ownership. You have it approach it with that in mind and a sense of urgency of doing something historical and unprecedented.”