Teammates will be on opposite sides during All-Star game
LeBron selected KD No. 1 overall: ‘What else is he supposed to do?’
The NBA All-Star Game is next Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Warriors fans will see plenty of Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
They were the top two picks in Thursday’s draft, Durant selected No. 1 overall by LeBron James. Which came as no surprise to Durant.
“What else is he supposed to do?” Durant asked, rhetorically.
Curry went No. 2 overall, selected by Giannis Antetokounmpo whose team also includes Joel Embiid, Paul George and Kemba Walker as starters.
On Team LeBron, Durant will be joined in the starting five by Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Anthony Davis is coming off the bench, as is Klay Thompson.
“Matching the teams up,” said Curry, “they’re basically giving them the crown already. I like us being underdogs right now.”
This will be the first time that Curry and Thompson have been on different teams.
“It’ll be like training camp,” Curry said. “It’ll be fun. I’ll probably have to guard him at some point.”
Said Thompson: “I know his moves, but he’s so good at what he does. It’ll be hard to stop him. It’ll be a shootout.”
NEXT UP: A SUNDAY DINNER
SPECIAL AGAINST MIAMI >> The Warriors have won 14 of 15, but they’ll need to play better tonight (5:30) against Miami than they did in a 117-107 win over the lowly Phoenix Suns Friday.
“They played harder and smarter than us, but talent eventually took over,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “This is not a game we’re particularly proud of, but we’ll take the game and move on.”
The Warriors trailed 8582 after three quarters, and Phoenix (11-46) was playing without star guard Devin Booker.
The Warriors played sloppy (18 turnovers). They lacked consistent focus (60 points in the paint allowed,
conceded 19 offensive rebounds). Although Thompson (25 points), Durant (21), Curry (20), DeMarcus Cousins (18) and Draymond Green (13) all scored in double figures for the first time this season, Curry went 6 of 17 from the field and 3 of 11 from 3.
COUSINS’ LONGEST BOOGIE YET >> Cousins played a season-high 27 minutes, but the night did not start well. He opened the game by missing a dunk. Then he bobbled a pass from Durant. Then he struggled defending Suns center Deandre Ayton. Then he became upset with the officials over his fouls (three in the first half) and his technical early in the second quarter.
Then Durant pulled him to the side. “We got to get our energy up,” Durant
said. Cousins nodded. “I agree with you 100 percent,” Cousins said.
By the end of the night, Cousins had 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
“I loved his resilience and resolve. He was vocal from the bench,” Kerr said. “DeMarcus did a good job of keeping or getting us emotionally invested in the game.”
So much that Cousins interrupted a coach’s huddle with 5:45 left and the Warriors leading 101-94.
“Don’t take me out,” Cousins pleaded to Kerr. Kerr turned to Rick Celebrini, who oversees the Warriors’ training staff, and got the green light.
“It was cool Steve and them let me play a little longer,”
Cousins said. “I was really into the game.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KLAY >> On his 29th birthday, Thompson had 25 points while going 9 of 17 from the field and 3 of 11 from 3. Beyond that, it did not appear the Warriors did anything special for him.
“Klay doesn’t need anything. He’s got everything he needs,” Kerr said. “He’s got the world best life. We all envy him. So we’re not going to give him anything for his birthday.”
No Rocco birthday cake like last year? “Nothing,” Kerr said. How about some extra passes?
“He doesn’t need that, either,” Kerr said. “He shoots every time he gets the ball.” TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, IT
Cousins WAS A BIG NIGHT >> wasn’t the only Warriors whistled for a technical foul. Shaun Livingston had one. Green had two and the ejection that comes with it.
Green actually was less to blame than he often is. After Suns reserve Kelly Oubre missed a foul shot, he zipped to the basket and threw down a one-handed dunk. Then he walked over to Green and nearly headbutted him. Green complained to Leon Wood for a call. Despite restraint provided by Cousins, Green got tossed.
Green declined to talk about the ejection, but Kerr said the Warriors were “too emotional.”
Kerr added: “The only one I was upset with was Shaun got one for making a gesture he got hit on the arm. He didn’t swear or say anything bad. He just said he got hit on the arm on the shots. I don’t think he deserved one. The other ones, we were too emotional.”