HE’S STILL COOKIN’
Cook sizzles filling in for injured Curry; KD leads way with 28 points
OAKLAND >> It would usually devastate a franchise if they had injuries to two All-Stars and a dependable veteran. The Warriors have a unique luxury, though.
Even if Stephen Curry (left groin), Draymond Green (right foot) and Shaun Livingston (right foot) stayed in the trainer’s room, they still have one of the NBA’s top scorers (Kevin Durant) and shooters (Klay Thompson). So, the Warriors had no problem dismantling the Brooklyn Nets with a 116100 victory on Saturday at Oracle Arena.
Durant finished with a team-leading 28 points, while shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line along with 11 assists, three steals and a block.
“It’s a hell of a luxury to have to be able to turn the offense to him and have him do the majority of the ball handling,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
It’s also a hell of a luxury they have other dependable stars and role players.
Thompson added 24 points on 11-of-20 shooting, despite shooting only 1-of-4 from the field and collecting three turnovers and three fouls. Warriors guard Quinn Cook started in Curry’s place and scored a season-high 27 points while going 11-of-16 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range in 30 minutes. Cook also made his first seven shots, collected six rebounds and added an assist, which entailed throwing a lob to third-year center Damian Jones.
Not bad for Cook, who had two healthy scratches last week and entered Saturday’s game averaging 12.2 minutes this season.
“It didn’t shock me,” Kerr said. “That’s a mark of a pro. He’s a great fit for us and always prepared and always
ready.”
After all, Cook averaging 14.6 points on 49.3 percent shooting and 3.9 assists in a combined 18 games as a starter last season when Curry had overlapping ankle and knee injuries.
“I felt comfortable,” Cook said. “Our guys do a great job in making you feel important and making you feel a part of the team, even when you’re not playing or are playing. We do a great job making you feel a part of the team.”
• Although Kerr reported Curry “feeling better” from a strained left groin, he had no clarity on if he can return for Monday’s game against the Clippers in Los Angeles.
At this point, I have no idea,” Kerr said.
Kerr has said that Curry would need to complete some on-court work before returning after sustaining the injury during Thursday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Kerr said the same thing about Livingston, who will miss his seventh consecutive game because of a sore right foot. Livingston completed a game of 3-on-3 during Friday’s practice.
Kerr said that Curry The Warriors’ Damian Jones (15) congratulates teammate Kevin Durant after a basket in Saturday’s win.
worked with Warriors director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini on Saturday at the team’s practice facility.
“He had better mobility and less pain,” Kerr said. “That’s a good sign.”
• Warriors forward Jonas Jerebko started in Green’s place and added eight points on 4-of-9 shooting, three rebounds and two assists. Though second-year forward Jordan Bell was demoted back to the reserves, he added five points on 2-of-3 shooting along with five rebounds, two steals and a block.
“I just wanted to get more spacing on the floor
to get a good offensive flow early,” Kerr said. “So we had more of a shooting lineup out there with Quinn and Jonas.”
Bell faulted himself for how he handled the starting power forward spot against Milwaukee. Then, he collected two fouls in the first two minutes.
“I’m not going to make excuses. I think I just played poor last game,” Bell said. “No matter who we play, I just have to pick it up. I wasn’t myself. I didn’t bring energy to the team.”
• Kerr sounded thrilled the Minnesota Timberwolves traded All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“We hope more All-Stars continue to go East,” Kerr said. “Not ours. Other people’s.”
• The Warriors recalled first-round pick Jacob Evans and training camp invitee Marcus Derrickson from their G-League team in Santa Cruz.
The Warriors sent both the seldom-used players to Santa Cruz for playing time, but wanted them available because of the injuries to Curry, Green and Livingston.
Evans, whom the Warriors drafted No. 28 out of the University of Cincinnati, has only appeared in seven games in 6.3 minutes, and has shot 22.2 percent from the field. The Warriors have told Evans to increase the arc on his shot, but he has also tried to sharpen his defense. Evans averaged only 6.5 points on 31.6 percent shooting in two games in Santa Cruz.
“I try to work on the things I know can get me on the court up here,” Evans said. “I’m not going to be a volume shooter. That’s not my role. Trying to take shots is not going to get me minutes for this team. They don’t pay me to shoot 3’s. We got Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant. So I try to work on those things that help the team.”