NBA title or not, these playoffs could be the last time we see Warriors core together
USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt explains why, win or lose, we should expect big changes for the Golden State Warriors come next season.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
Steph Curry was great for the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Also, in a rare mental lapse, Curry almost cost Golden State a victory in Game 4 against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Curry called a timeout the Warriors didn’t have, resulting in a technical foul and Sacramento’s possession, allowing the Kings to cut a five-point lead to one point in the final minute.
However, Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes missed a potential game-winning 3-point attempt, and the Warriors hung on for a 126-125 victory, tying the series at 2-2. Game 5 is Wednesday in Sacramento (10 p.m. ET, TNT).
Curry finished with a team-high 32 points, and he escaped without the timeout being even a bigger part of this fantastic Western Conference series.
With Curry trying to get the ball across half-court, the Warriors ahead 126-121 and 42.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, he called a timeout that the Warriors didn’t have. It was reminiscent of then-Michigan basketball star Chris Webber calling a timeout the Wolverines didn’t have against North Carolina in the 1993 NCAA men’s championship game.
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Malik Monk made the free throw, and the Kings retained possession. De’Aaron Fox, who had a game-high 38 points, made a 3-pointer, cutting Golden State’s lead to 126-125.
Curry missed a jumper, giving Sacramento a chance for the victory. Curry redeemed himself with solid defense on Sacramento’s final possession – first keeping Fox from getting off a shot and then closing out on Barnes’ miss as time expired.
Curry said he thought he was making the right move by calling a timeout until he looked over at the bench and saw distraught Warriors coach Steve Kerr. Two minutes earlier, the Warriors had challenged a foul called on Warriors center Kevon Looney. They lost the challenge, resulting in the loss of their final timeout.
Kerr took responsibility.
“As we’re exiting the huddle, that’s on me, I’ve got to remind the guys we’re out of timeouts,” Kerr said. “I didn’t say that, so Steph wasn’t aware.”
Kings rookie Keegan Murray responded with his best game of the series, scoring 23 points, 15 on 5-for-7 shooting on 3s.
Klay Thompson added 26 points for the Warriors. Thompson and Curry were a combined 9-for-20 on 3s.
In the series, the three of the four games have been decided by seven points or fewer, including two by three or fewer.
