The Warriors, who were in a desperate situation, came out on fire and kept the fires going Thursday night at Chase Centre.
Golden State gained some much-needed breathing room in their first-round Western Conference playoff series thanks to their 114-97 victory against the Kings in Game 3. 2-1 is Sacramento’s advantage in the best-of-seven series.
Stephen Curry scored a game-high 36 points for the Warriors, followed by Andrew Wiggins with 20, Jordan Poole with 16, Klay Thompson with 13, and Moses Moody with 13.
When Sacramento’s regulars were in the starting lineup, the Warriors limited Sacramento to their lowest point total of the season despite playing without its top two defenders, Gary Payton II and Draymond Green, who were both out due to illness.
Three observations from Game 3 are as follows:
Wiggs, Steph, and Loon
The Warriors were aware of the significant vacuum they had to fill with Draymond and GP2 out. To pull it off, three players worked together.
With 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting, including 5-of-12 from long range, Curry led the offensive surge. He had a perfect balance between shooting from long range and dribbling to the rim whether he was on the ball or not.
🐐 doing 🐐 things pic.twitter.com/iXTVjZHzNi
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 21, 2023
Wiggins scored 20 points on 8 of 16 shooting, 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. He had seven additional rebounds and contributed consistently on defence.
In addition to hindering Kings centre Domantas Sabonis’ night, Looney toiled for 31 minutes, ending with four points and a game-high 201 rebounds.
Although Donte DiVincenzo (six points, eight rebounds, eight assists) and Moody made significant contributions, Curry, Wiggins, and Looney’s heroics were the key to this victory.
Early on, the proper urgency was apparent.
The Warriors appeared to understand the seriousness of the situation from the first tip for the first time in the series. In Games 1 and 2, they turned the ball over on their opening two possessions before forcing one on Sacramento’s first possession.
They were searching the ground for dropped balls. valuing the basketball as a precious possession. Additionally, playing defence like a savage pack of wolves.
What we learned from the Warriors
Even though the Warriors’ shooting was subpar outside of Curry, Wiggins, and Moody, they managed to stifle the NBA’s top offence.
The same Kings who scored 71 points in the first half of Game 1 and 41 points in the first quarter of Game 2 scored 41 points in the first half and 72 points after three quarters. For the most of the game, Sacramento’s total field goal percentage was in the 30s and its 3-point percentage was in the 20s.
The Warriors did it without their two best defenders, and the Kings’ regular lineup failed to score at least 100 points just twice all season.
Not quite a Raacle
Curry became angry, roared, and waved his arms twice in the second quarter. He wasn’t asking the authorities for a pass or a whistle.
Curry requested some assistance from “teammates” in the stands rather than from teammates on the floor.
The Warriors expected a rowdy sellout crowd of 18,064, but it only sometimes showed up. Only a few seconds of responses to Curry’s exhortations were followed by a return to normal, regular-season decibel levels.
Steph hyping up Chase Center 🗣 pic.twitter.com/b2o14u78SO
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 21, 2023
The audience at Chase was often quiet until the Warriors were on a run, so there was an opportunity to replicate the commotion that had turned Oracle Arena into a terrifying place for visitors.
Also Read : How the Warriors were able to win Game 3 despite without Draymond and GP2
This was less than anticipated and far below the commotion created during the previous two games in Sacramento, which had huge stakes—a win would save a dynasty that was on the verge of extinction, a defeat would put it out of business.