Kurtenbach
This Warriors team has taken every excuse offered to lose games this season. Saturday could have easily been another such contest deemed meaningless mid-game.
But instead, the Warriors' core three fought like there was something greater than just a regular-season game on the line.
There was weight to that contest.
And if Saturday was, indeed, the end approaching, Curry, Thompson, and Green fended it off for a few days, at least.
The three — but particularly Curry — were spectacular in the final eight minutes of the contest (three at the end of regulation, five in overtime.)
It was a reminder that the difference between
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton during the first half in San Francisco on Saturday.
good and great players is the ability to perform when the stakes are highest.
The Warriors' triumvirate has four rings to prove their bonafides there.
And that core can still raise their game to that great level when needed.
Curry was downright transcendental Saturday,
scoring the Warriors' final 11 points in regulation and giving the team a chance to win the game at the buzzer with a gamesaving block with 2.2 seconds to play in the fourth quarter.
It was reminiscent of his NBA Finals performances, where put the Warriors on his back and carried them to victory.
But Thompson made big defensive plays and shots, and Green orchestrated it all.
“Championship stuff,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “That is the team that won four titles. They know how to do it. They got it done tonight.”
Saturday was big for the Warriors. Saturday was reaffirming, too. I won't call Saturday a turning point for this team, because they've already cited a few this season, and I'm reasonably certain this team has turned so often they're back at their original place.
But all you need to do is watch Curry and company fight back in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
And if you saw Curry's reaction to the win and his clutch play, you'd know Saturday's contest was so much heavier than just one win for the Dubs.