Just ten days after this landmark clash, which saw rookie Andrew Nembhard play the song for them, the Warriors found the Pacersthis time on the move and in back to back. Largely (and logically) dominated the day before at the Bucks, the defending champions were obviously keen to revive …
Except that things did not, but then not at all go as planned in theIndianasince the teammates of Stephen Curry (38 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) once again lost an away game (125-119). Worse: the last MVP of the Finals injured his shoulder along the way and he had to leave his family before the end of the game…
After two setbacks, Tyrese Haliburton (29 points, 6 assists) and his people did not ask so much to put more players of Golden State in the face of their doubts, inflicting on them a fourth defeat in five games, at the heart of their (long) road trip to the East.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— A two-speed game for Indiana. Imperials in the first half (74-54), especially in the second quarter (47-28!), to take up to 25 points ahead against Warriors out of touch and horrible defensively, the Pacers nevertheless trembled to the end. Taken by the throat on returning from the locker room, because they were dominated 33-19 in the third quarter, Rick Carlisle’s men saw the players of Golden State gradually catch up on their delay, before reaccelerating to regain air at the score. Not without taking shelter for good in the last twelve minutes. Even without Stephen Curry…
— Alone against all, Stephen Curry is injured… Until the end, (almost) nothing went the way of the Warriors. Deprived of Klay Thompson (rest) and Andrew Wiggins (injury), the defending champions relied as rarely on their leader, the only one to float in this match. Particularly in the first half, where he scored 27 of his team’s 54 points, doing his best to keep them afloat. Unfortunately, in the second half, even if he continued to perform very well, the “Chief” was mainly hampered by an injury to his left shoulder, on contact with Jalen Smith. Golden State holds its breath…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Tyrese Haliburton. Author of a horrible match against Miami (1 point, 0/9 on shots…), the leader of Indiana wanted to bounce back as quickly as possible and he did not fail this time. Top scorer on his team, without really experiencing a drop in speed, he showed the way and hurt Golden State with his outside address (5/10 at 3-pts). Also achieving some nice shifts for his teammates, often left alone by the Warriors in attack. A boss performance for the Pacers conductor, therefore.
✅ Bennedict Mathurin. Symbol of the efficiency of the Pacers bench, particularly dominating against the Warriors, the rookie, very sharp and inspired, finished the game with 24 points on the clock (8/14 on shots, 4/7 at 3-pts and 4/4 on throws), as well as a plus/minus of +34, simply the best of his team. A welcome boost for Rick Carlisle’s men, also helped by the good contributions of TJ McConnell, Oshae Brissett or Jalen Smith, in rotation.
⛔ Steve Kerr’s rotations. It’s not the first time this season that the Warriors have suffered and lost the thread when their coach started to open his bench. However, this is what happened again last night. Well launched by their holders, the defending champions then let go when it was necessary to bring in the substitutes. Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Ty Jerome, Anthony Lamb or even JaMychal Green thus took on water and spoiled the good start of their teammates, which the Pacers obviously knew how to take advantage of, to pass in front and then fly away to score, in the first two quarters.
⛔ Draymond Green. Author of one of his worst games of the season (1 point, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 lost balls in 27 minutes…), the interior of the Warriors has as a bonus allowed himself to be expelled for a second fault technical in the last quarter, after talking too much with the referees when the Pacers were shooting pitches. An evening without and definitely to forget for the quadruple NBA champion.
THE FOLLOWING
Indiana (15-14) : trip to Cleveland, on the night of Friday to Saturday (01:30).
Golden State (14-15) : trip to Philadelphia, on the night of Friday to Saturday (01:30).
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