Driven by a Chase Center of the big nights, the Warriors start the match with a nice defensive aggressiveness. With a starting five where Andrew Wiggins took the place of Draymond Green, and Jordan Poole reinforces the “back-court”, they cause five stray balls from the Kings and limit them to 39% on shots. On the other side, the Warriors dominate the offensive rebound and abuse the shot from distance, but their address allows them to take a nine-point lead (29-20).
De’Aaron Fox then passes the second with six straight points which revives Sacramento but the Warriors keep control of operations thanks to two new award-winning shots, this time from Andrew Wiggins and Stephen Curry (39-30). The two defenses then take over, and the Kings miss the opportunity to put pressure on Golden State. On the contrary, it is Stephen Curry who drives the point home to put the Warriors at +12 at the break (53-41).
The face of the game changes in the third quarter. The Warriors score four layups in a row to open the period, as Sacramento pushes the tempo and attacks in transition. At each mini-run of the Kings, however, Golden State finds the parade by Curry, Poole, and even Moses Moody, excellent off the bench, to widen the gap (82-64). It then takes six important points from Fox to limit the breakage (84-72).
Sensing the danger, Steve Kerr’s men started the last quarter seriously to pass a 21-11 to the Kings and take a 22-point lead (105-83)! Stephen Curry’s sixth 3-pointer definitively seals the victory for the Warriors. They will find Draymond Green and probably, Gary Payton II, Sunday to try to equalize in the series.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Warriors defense sets the tone. Despite the absences of Draymond Green, suspended, and Gary Payton II, ill, Golden State entered the meeting with an aggressiveness and defensive rigor worthy of a cleaver match. They limited the Kings to 33% shooting success, caused 10 stray balls, and mostly defended by limiting fouls. The Kings only attempted eight free throws in the first half, and scored just 41 points, their lowest total of the season in the first 24 minutes of a game.
– A 3rd quarter synonymous with a circle attack. Both teams had only 26 points in the racket in the first half. Mike Brown and Steve Kerr wanted to change the game in the third quarter. The Kings pushed the ball on field goal and offensive rebound to attack the Warriors defense and get 12 free throws. And Golden State used high screens by Kevon Looney on carrier or away from the ball to open Sacramento’s racket. Result, the two teams each scored 16 points in the racket in the third quarter.
– Moses Moody, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jonathan Kuminga are present. The adage is that the second knives play better at home. Transparent in Sacramento, the DiVincenzo – Kuminga – Moody trio gave Steve Kerr crucial minutes to make up for the absence of Draymond Green and Gary Payton II. They scored 25 points between them, including 13 for Moody, who was particularly decisive in the third quarter when Curry, Wiggins, and Looney were on the bench.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Stephen Curry. The Warriors point guard put pressure on the Kings defense throughout the game, scoring 25 of his 36 points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. He responded to every Sacramento mini run to lead his team to victory.
✅ Andrew Wiggins. Expected at the turn in the absence of Draymond Green and Jordan Poole, Wiggins set the tone in defense, being aggressive. He also assisted Curry on offense by scoring 20 points.
✅ Kevon Looney. As in the last playoffs, Looney responded in a decisive match. Orphan of Draymond Green, it was he who led the defense of the Dubs. He made Sabonis’ life difficult and was much better on Fox’s pick-and-rolls. He finished with 20 rebounds, including 9 offensive, and 9 assists!
✅ De’Aaron Fox. Only King survived, Fox finished at the gates of a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
✅ ⛔Domantas Sabonis. The Lithuanian finished in double doubles with 15 points and 16 rebounds, but he also lost 6 balls and did not weigh on the game.
⛔ Trey Lyles – Malik Monk. Decisive in both games in Sacramento, the two substitutes got through, finishing the game with a total of 6 points at 1/15 on shots.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 4 at Golden State, Sunday (9:30 p.m.).
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
