Without Klay Thompson, absent at the last minute due to back pain, Stephen Curry found himself a bit alone in the first half against the Thunder. Led by 21 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or 14 from Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe, the Thunder led 79-69 at halftime.
Fortunately, the “Splash Brother” compiled him 24 points at 9/16 shooting, including 4/8 from afar. Logically, Oklahoma City therefore tightened its defense on Stephen Curry in the third quarter.
“It’s a team that switches everything, except Lu Dort on me” explained the double MVP after the meeting. “He was like glued to me. So if I put screens or if I move away, it creates a problem in terms of assistance. »
Particularly targeted and regularly taken two by the defense of Mark Daigneault, Stephen Curry will therefore leave the keys to Jordan Poole. The latter, however, was only 3/10 in shooting after three quarters, with more ball losses (4) than assists (3) but, as a good third “Splash Brother”, his confidence did not falter. never crumbles.
“He was so good in the last quarter and a half” appreciated Steve Kerr. “By scoring, by going to the circle, by making the right decisions”.
The will-o’-the-wisp will thus reverse the meeting, with 18 points in the only fourth quarter, at 5/9 in shooting including 3/6 from afar. Enough to make a defense focused on Stephen Curry pay.
“He attacked on quick play. He attacked on the pick-and-roll, he went for free throws” commented Stephen Curry. “A lot of our struggle in the fourth quarters is because we don’t play with enough intention on every possession. We’re going to miss shots. It happens. But we knew what we wanted to achieve and we put the ball in JP’s hands on those possessions knowing he could break through that first line of defense. It was a good option and he made them pay.
| Jordan Poole | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | GOS | 57 | 22 | 33.3 | 27.9 | 79.8 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 8.8 |
| 2020-21 | GOS | 51 | 19 | 43.2 | 35.1 | 88.2 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 12.0 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 76 | 30 | 44.8 | 36.4 | 92.5 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 18.5 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 79 | 30 | 43.1 | 33.4 | 87.2 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| Total | 263 | 26 | 42.2 | 33.8 | 87.9 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 15.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
