KLAY-PLUS EFFORT
With Curry and Green out, Durant scores 44, Thompson notches winner
OAKLAND >> Soon enough, the Warriors will no longer slog through games or have poor shooting nights.
Although they do not have a definitive timetable, the Warriors said they expect Stephen Curry to play at some point on their upcoming five-game trip within the next two weeks.
That moment cannot come soon enough. The Warriors prevailed with a 117-116 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday at Oracle Arena. But it required a valiant effort from Kevin Durant (44 points) and Klay Thompson (31 points) to do so. After missing a 33-foot 3-pointer with 35 seconds left, Thompson rectified that play with a putback off a missed floater that gave the Warriors a 117-116 lead with 5.8 seconds left.
“Definitely more on our shoulders,” Thompson said, also referring to Draymond Green missing eight of the past 10 games because of a sprained right toe. “Those guys do so much for us with playmaking and scoring. It was a total team effort.”
Still, Durant and Thompson commanded center stage.
Durant went 13 of 26 from the field and 16 of 17 from the free-throw line. That made up for his 3-point shooting (2 of 8), six turnovers and a missed 13foot jumper with the Warriors trailing, 116-115, with 19.5 seconds left. Thompson shot 12-of26 overall and 5 of 12 from the perimeter.
Thompson’s last missed 3-pointer stemmed the NBA instituting a 14-second shot clock after an offensive rebound. When Warriors forward Andre
Iguodala grabbed an offensive rebound off Durant’s missed 14-foot jumper, Thompson had the ball and hoisted from 33 feet with five seconds left on the shot clock. Afterwards, Durant said, “Klay still could’ve gotten a better shot than that. I told him that.”
“That’s something we’ll have to talk about,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. It’s a different vibe. You’re used to getting an offensive board your entire career and you feel that clock. It sneaks up on you quickly.”
The Kings (10-9) tried to sneak up on the Warriors (14-7) in a game that featured 15 lead changes and 15 ties.
The Warriors shot a combined 10 of 34 from 3-point range (29.4 percent). They committed 15 turnovers and 24 fouls. And they conceded double-digits efforts to the Kings’ Buddy Hield (28 points), Marvin Bagley III (20), Ian Shumpert (14), Josh Jackson (12) and Harry Giles III (10). Aside from Warriors center Damian Jones rectifying an inconsistent week with 13 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes, Durant and Thompson helped the Warriors absorb the ongoing absences to Curry and Green.
“It’s not comfortable playing without them. They bring too much to the table to say that,” Durant said. “But we’re trying to figure out ways to be effective with each one of us on the court. Coach has been trying to do a good job mixing and matching the lineups and doing a good job of putting ourselves to be in position to be successful individually. We try to rely on our defense more than anything.”
When can the Warriors rely on Curry and Green?
The Warriors will play without Curry on Monday against the Orlando Magic at Oracle Arena since he has yet to practice with the team since injuring his left groin against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 8.
With Kerr listing Green The Warriors’ Kevon Looney (5) dunks for two of his seven points Saturday night at Oracle Arena.
and Alfonzo McKinnie (left foot) as “day-to-day,” it appears unlikely they would play on Monday against Orlando since they have not participated in a full practice since suffering their respective injuries.
Still, the Warriors reevaluated Curry on Saturday and determined “is making very good progress.” Kerr added that Curry participated “in a little scrimmage” on Saturday at the Warriors’ practice facility and did not show any additional pain after being in a car accident on Friday.
“He’s anxious to get back,” Kerr said of Curry. “But he’s handled it very well, supporting his teammates and getting his rehab in every day and working really hard. He’s handling it as exactly as you would expect Steph to handle it.”
Curry could return as early as Thursday’s game in Toronto. The Warriors then have stops in Detroit (Saturday), Atlanta (Dec. 3), Cleveland (Dec. 5) and Milwaukee (Dec. 7). The Warriors will practice on Tuesday and travel on Wednesday to Toronto.
“If we’re not working out, he’ll play some 3-on3. If we have enough guys, we’ll scrimmage,” Kerr said. “We’ll put (assistant coach) Jarron Collins in the pickand-roll and see if Steph can beat him off the dribble. Then we’ll make the decision on whether he’ll play or not.”
Does Kerr like Curry’s chances?
“I do,” Kerr said, smiling. “I really like his chances.”
The Warriors also liked their chances with Durant and Thompson. Kerr called Durant “phenomenal” and “amazing” after scoring the Warriors’ first 12 points of the fourth quarter and finishing with 17 of the Warriors’ 22 fourth-quarter points. His 44 points was a season high.
“There were so many possessions that were dead in the water,” Kerr said of Durant. “And he bailed us out. Kevin is amazing.”
Kerr praised Thompson for making a “great putback and great aggressive play” after missing a 6-foot jumper that Kerr believed should have resulted in Kings center Willie CauleyStein being called for a foul.
“Sometimes the ball favors the aggressor and I was able to get the easy putback,” Thompson said. “I don’t know if I got fouled, but who cares. I got the putback. I’ll take a game-winner any way you can get it.”