The Golden State Warriors secured a tough victory at the Indiana Pacers, capitalizing on a last-minute comeback. Stephen Curry was in charge, but that wasn’t enough for the long-awaited three-point record.
Indiana Pacers (12-17) – Golden State Warriors (22-5) 100: 102 (BOXSCORE)
Curry had 26 points (8/20 FG, 5/15 three-sets) as well as 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but there were also 7 ball losses. Curry now only misses a three-pointer to tie Ray Allen on the all-time leaderboard for most three-pointers in NBA history. The next night he gets his next chance at the New York Knicks.
At least when his coach doesn’t mind. “I’m going to give Steve a break tomorrow” – Steve Kerr said at the post-match press conference. before he discovers the fraud himself.
More importantly, it was enough to beat the last mighty Pacers, who won three games in a row. Curry has received support from Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins (both 15), and Kevon Looney (14). On the other hand, Domantas Sabonis, newly crowned Eastern Conference Player of the Week, controlled 30 points (12/17 FG) and 11 rebounds, Malcolm Brogdon had 23 points and made 8 assists, and Karis Levert scored 19 points.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was not part of the game for the second time in a row, as is the NBA’s health and safety protocol. Instead, his team was once again taken care of by assistant coach Lloyd Pierce.
Stephen Curry slowly starts the game again
Before the match, Curry lamented that he focused too much on chasing records in previous matches. This time he didn’t force anything at first, his first three attempts were completely open and out of the game – still missing throws. This is one of the reasons his team got off to a mixed start in the game.
The Pacers won the first quarter with 29:25, and at the beginning of the second quarter they moved away with 9 points, especially since Sabonis and Brissett started the game well. Now the Warriors hit back, however, within 12-0, Curry also sank his first three and received applause from the Indiana crowd.
The embankments weren’t broken, however, and the Warriors remained a muddled game, scoring 11 spins in the first half and only 3/14 off the triple streak. Sabonis broke his tally on the other side to 16, and Brogdon responded to Curry’s second three with his long ball. Indiana started the first half at 55:47.
The third quarter started again with a slightly better attack from the Warriors. With a score of 7-2 they tied meanwhile, but Sabonis and Levert in particular kept up the resistance, while Miles Turner (6 points) already scored his fourth set against Wiggins.
Curry fails to expand strands at record level
It remained a close match, at the end of the quarter, the Warriors met a few three times in a row for the first time, but Curry himself took the rhythm of his team the next time he lost the ball. Once again Indiana responded thanks to Jeremy Lamb and Sabonis and entered the final quarter with 84:80. Here, too, they kept this small progress for a long time.
About four minutes earlier, Curry was back on the court at +5 Indiana. The Warriors were looking for him, but Brogdon still gave him a little breath of fresh air. On the other side he fed Sabonis, Curry responded with three fifths and put him at -2. When everyone was counting on the next three, he instead moved to the basket and equalized the game with a stop 47 seconds from the end.
Brodgon missed, Curry on the other hand missed an open throw somewhat, but Looney was there and he put Dubs in the lead – it was 7-0 for the Guests. 13 seconds left, Levert should fix it, but the goalkeeper slipped on the drive and lost the ball two seconds before the end.