Around the trade deadline, a few teams called the Indiana Pacers to check on the availability of center Myles Turner, those teams knowing Turner is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Those teams were told Turner was not available and came away with the impression Indiana planned to re-sign Turner this summer, league sources told NBC Sports.
Team sources told me the Pacers absolutely want to keep Turner, who is closing in on his 700th game for the franchise. But Indiana has to manage a cash crunch. They are currently projected to be about $22 million below next season's luxury tax without Turner, and he'll probably be looking for a significant raise on his current $19.9 million salary. The Pacers haven't paid the luxury tax since 2005, and there are no plans to go into it next season, sources said. Keeping Turner is going to require some negotiating and some maneuvering.
With the contracts of guys like Isaiah Hartenstein (three years, $87 million) and Alperen Sungun (five years, $185 million) setting the market, Turner is going to ask for $30 million or more a season. Signing him to a new deal in that range could mean moves with the role players the Pacers have — Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin — to clear out cap space and stay below the luxury tax. Indiana could play hardball — not many teams have cap space available and the teams that do, like the Nets, will not want to spend it on a veteran center — but the Pacers also want to keep a key player happy. It's a fine line to walk.
Turner averaged 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, he is shooting 40.2% on 3-pointers (5.5 a game) plus is a solid rim-protector as a big averaging almost two blocks a night. Most importantly, Turner is a natural fit with the Pacers' up-tempo system and point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
It's going to be a pretty dry free agency market this summer, and the biggest names on the board — LeBron James and James Harden (player option) — are expected to re-sign with their current teams. In the wake of that, expect some big trades to come down. Just not ones involving Myles Turner.
The feud between Lakers forward LeBron James and ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith heated up this week. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Time and Allen Berezovsky / Getty Images)
This month James angrily confronted Smith, who was sitting courtside at a Lakers game. Smith didn't appear to respond but days later said on the "Gil's Arena" podcast that he thought James' confrontational move was "weak" and "some bulls—."
Still can't pick a side? Here's how some NBA experts feel about the matter.
Charles Barkley: There are only losers in this scenario
During an appearance Friday on "The Dan Patrick Show," Barkley was asked who had a better week, Smith or James? The Hall of Fame player and TNT analyst said he likes both men but "they both had an awful week."
"I’ve always liked LeBron but him being a bully, it turned me off, Dan," Barkley said. "But I will say this: Stephen A., the way he reacted was so lame and weak. And Stephen A. is a good dude, man. LeBron, like I say, I blame him for starting the bullying, going on Pat’s show just bullying people. ‘Cause you know LeBron, he’s a control freak. He knows everything he’s doing. He knew when he walked up to Stephen A. what he was doing.
"But the way Stephen A. reacted — going on Gilbert’s podcast, talking tough. Come on, man, you’re better than that. So there’s only losers, Dan, in this scenario. You got the biggest star in the game, you probably got the biggest star on television and they both look bad in my opinion. And what bothers me the most — they're both good dudes."
Matt Barnes: Stephen A. crossed the line
The co-host of the "All the Smoke" podcast posted a video Thursday on Instagram in which he stated that he's taking James' side.
“He’s been getting scrutinized the whole time [he's been in the NBA] and he finally came out and was just unfiltered," said Barnes, a former ESPN analyst who had two stints with the Clippers and one with the Lakers during his 14-year NBA career. "An unfiltered, no-holds-barred with Pat Mac, which was dope. Like, I played against Bron for a long time and I don’t know that side of him. So as a fan, as someone who played against him, I want to know the funny side, the talk s— side of Bron. After 22 years of someone who’s always just [taken] the high road, he was tired of it and let off a clip.
"Obviously Stephen A. is the person who caught it, but it was really at all of the media. ... Like, I think you guys forget sometimes that this man is human."
Barnes added, addressing Smith: "You my dog, but I think you crossed the line."
And to James, Barnes said: "Keep talking your s—. We didn’t get to see this side of Kobe [Bryant] until later. People want to know what it’s really like, and you gave them a glimpse today, man."
Adam Silver: I particularly feel protective of our players
The NBA commissioner was asked about the situation while speaking to reporters following a two-day Board of Governors meeting in New York. Silver didn't mention James or Smith by name and didn't take sides but did acknowledge "I particularly feel protective of our players."
“There's seemingly as much social media interest in this league at times than all the other leagues combined," Silver said. "So it's a two-edged sword. Sometimes, it's measured in column inches, and it's wonderful to see so much interest in our sport. At the other time, I cringe at a lot of the coverage.
“I would just say in terms of [the] back-and-forth, again I haven't had an opportunity to watch or read precisely what went on today, but, of course, would like the focus to be on the play on the floor. And I particularly feel protective of our players, of course, but I recognize that there's a cottage industry out there of media that we are often the beneficiary of that talk about our sport around the clock. But I sure wish it would never become personal.”
Paul George: Both parties aren't wrong
The 15-year NBA veteran and current member of the Philadelphia 76ers told USA Today he thinks neither side is necessarily wrong but they both could have handled the situation better.
“I think obviously LeBron, stepping in as a father —you know, as a parent, you got a sensitive side to that, him standing up for his son and coming to his defense. But I think at the same time where Stephen A.’s coming from, and I’ve heard his side of the story of not actually attacking Bronny, but more so attacking the words and what Bron has said — you know, the hype that he’s put on his son — I think more so attacking that. And, say what you want, sports is very much involved with being critiqued and it’s the field that you put yourself into. No one is above it. You step into the ring, you gotta take what comes with it.
"So I think both parties aren’t wrong. As two Black men, I think they could’ve handled that better. But, you know, I’m all for both sides getting off what they need to get off their minds.”
Gilbert Arenas: LeBron has a point, but ...
Weeks after Smith appeared on the "Gil's Arena" podcast to discuss the courtside incident, Arenas and his co-hosts talked about the continuing drama on Thursday's episode. Arenas, who played 11 years in the NBA, said he understands James' point of view but thinks a conversation between the two men is overdue.
“You gotta figure the man’s got his son involved. Everybody’s passionate about their family. They gonna stand up for their family," Arenas said. "But if I’m looking at Bron, bro, I would’ve just went and hollered at him, you know what I’m saying, on the political side. ‘Cause look how he did it. Bron went on the [Pat] McAfee show, bro. If you want to make this about it being in the media, go and have a debate with him. Let’s talk about this. Let’s sit down and talk about this, man.”
Eric Henderson, who led South Dakota State to two NCAA Tournament appearances in six seasons, has been hired as Drake’s head coach, the school announced Friday.
Most times there’s a “first time in program history” stat with Duke’s men’s basketball program, it’s notable. Like this one: For the first time, the Blue Devils have shot at least 60% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 80% at the free-throw line in back-to-back games. “I know we've had teams that have been in great rhythm,” coach Jon Scheyer said on Friday.
South Carolina did just enough to keep its national title defense alive, thanks in large part to MiLaysia Fulwiley. The sophomore guard scored 23 points, including a go-ahead layup with 2:22 left, and Chloe Kitts added 15 points and 11 rebounds to help the No. 1 seed Gamecocks beat fourth-seeded Maryland 71-67 on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the women's NCAA Tournament. Staley added that playing in the tough Southeastern Conference gave her team “confidence to be able to be in a tightknit game and find a way to win because that’s what it’s about at this stage of the game."
Following a hard fall in a March 20 contest against the Toronto Raptors, the star guard missed Golden State’s next two games — both of which ended in losses.
After scoring 23 points on 7of 21 from the field and 5 of 16 from 3-point range, Curry illustrated the severity of his injury, which he described as a “deep, serious contusion.”
“It just reminded me of 2021 when I fell into the stairs in Houston,” Curry told reporters, referring to a similar fall that resulted in a hairline tailbone fracture. “Thankfully, I didn’t break anything or have any bone damage. … I’ll feel it for a while, but I can play, and I can’t make it worse as long as I don’t land on it again.”
Steph Curry provides an update on the "deep, serious contusion" in his tailbone that caused him to miss two games pic.twitter.com/Xr338mze92
Curry added that the injury didn’t bother or worry him in his return to game action — he said he’s just “aware of it” — though he isn’t sure how long the injury will linger.
“A week off is great in one aspect because you’re rested,” Curry continued. “But the timing, the endurance of getting through your regular minutes, that was a little bit of a challenge. Down the stretch, just trying to manage the game and not do anything crazy.”
While that break might have helped the 37-year-old regain some physical strength for the remainder of the season, Curry also disclosed the mental effects of the absence.
“I was away from the team for three days, which was kind of weird, but I could fill the cup up a little bit,” he explained. “I thought I was going to play in Miami and kind of went through the routine but wasn’t able to go for the game. So, it was another two days to get my mind right.”
Coach Steve Kerr shared a similar sentiment on his veteran leader’s needed return — but valuable break as well.
“I thought [Curry] looked great,” Kerr said in his postgame presser. “He was moving really well, took care of the ball. I thought Steph played an excellent game. He probably missed his last five or six 3s, so the numbers don’t look great, but he looked like himself and I think the week off did him a lot of good.”
With nine games left in the NBA regular season, Golden State needs Curry to have as much mental and physical energy as possible going forward.
After Friday night, the Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota all remain within half a game in the Western Conference standings seeking the No. 6 seed and an evasion from the play-in tournament.
Following a hard fall in a March 20 contest against the Toronto Raptors, the star guard missed Golden State’s next two games — both of which ended in losses.
After scoring 23 points on 7 of 21 from the field and 5 of 16 from 3-point range, Curry illustrated the severity of his injury, which he described as a “deep, serious contusion.”
“It just reminded me of 2021 when I fell into the stairs in Houston,” Curry told reporters, referring to a similar fall that resulted in a hairline tailbone fracture. “Thankfully, I didn’t break anything or have any bone damage. … I’ll feel it for a while, but I can play, and I can’t make it worse as long as I don’t land on it again.”
Steph Curry provides an update on the "deep, serious contusion" in his tailbone that caused him to miss two games pic.twitter.com/Xr338mze92
Curry added that the injury didn’t bother or worry him in his return to game action — he said he’s just “aware of it” — though he isn’t sure how long the injury will linger.
“A week off is great in one aspect because you’re rested,” Curry continued. “But the timing, the endurance of getting through your regular minutes, that was a little bit of a challenge. Down the stretch, just trying to manage the game and not do anything crazy.”
While that break might have helped the 37-year-old regain some physical strength for the remainder of the season, Curry also disclosed the mental effects of the absence.
“I was away from the team for three days, which was kind of weird, but I could fill the cup up a little bit,” he explained. “I thought I was going to play in Miami and kind of went through the routine but wasn’t able to go for the game. So, it was another two days to get my mind right.”
Coach Steve Kerr shared a similar sentiment on his veteran leader’s needed return — but valuable break as well.
“I thought [Curry] looked great,” Kerr said in his postgame presser. “He was moving really well, took care of the ball. I thought Steph played an excellent game. He probably missed his last five or six 3s, so the numbers don’t look great, but he looked like himself and I think the week off did him a lot of good.”
With nine games left in the NBA regular season, Golden State needs Curry to have as much mental and physical energy as possible going forward. After Friday night, the Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota all remained within half a game in the Western Conference standings seeking the No. 6 seed and an evasion from the play-in tournament.
Fan favorite LaMelo Ball is out for the remainder of the season so he can have procedures to clean up nagging issues with his ankles and wrist, the team announced Friday.
OFFICIAL: LaMelo Ball will undergo arthroscopic surgery to address a right ankle impingement. He will also have a minor procedure on his right wrist. Ball is listed as out for tonight’s game vs TOR and will miss the remainder of the season.
Ball had played through pain in recent weeks, according to reports, but with the Hornets more focused on the lottery than winning games, the smart play is to shut their leading scorer down. Charlotte currently has the third-worst record in the league (18-54), and the three worst teams each have a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick, however for the team with the fourth-worst record that falls to 12.5% (and the risk of falling further down in the lottery increases, too).
Ball averaged 25.2 points and 7.4 assists a game this season for the Hornets. He was the leading fan vote getter among Eastern Conference players, although he did not make the All-Star team (he was not a starter due to the player and media votes, then the coaches did not select him as a reserve).
Ball, 23, is part of a young core in Charlotte with Brandon Miller (22), Mark Edwards (23, although he is in trade rumors) and possibly even Miles Bridges (older at 26). That core, however, isn't winning many games right now, and this team still needs a true No. 1 option to build around.
There has been some talk about the Hornets trying to trade Ball this summer, but his market would be limited. Part of that is his max contract, Ball has four years and $168.6 million remaining on his extension that kicked in this year. The other part of that is he is seen in league circles as more of a floor raiser than a guy who is the point guard of a contender. That is due to Ball's defensive struggles, plus the perception that his stats are more "empty calories" than those leading a team to wins.
Ball should be healthy and ready for summer training, then when training camp opens in the fall. Who will be with Ball in Charlotte next fall is the big question.
After three consecutive troubling performances against inferior opponents, the Warriors spent most of Friday night trending toward a fourth such act, this time against a team considerably worse than the previous three.
The New Orleans Pelicans, 20-53, missing four starters and already seated on the bullet train to the NBA draft lottery, put up all the fight the Warriors could take before Golden State, finally, in the fourth quarter, responded like a team in a playoff race.
The Warriors needed every bit of their 15-point fourth-quarter advantage to slip out of Smoothie King Center with a 111-95 victory that left them still searching for satisfaction.
“I thought we stuck with it,” Draymond Green told reporters in New Orleans. “Got off to a slow start, and then once we found our footing we kind of found our rhythm. And in the second half, it really started to feel like us.
“Not great. It can get a lot better. But I love the way we closed the game.”
Golden State through three quarters managed only a one-point lead (83-82) over New Orleans’ backups before finding their bearings in the fourth quarter as the Pelicans ran aground in ways the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat – the previous two opponents – did not.
The Warriors are so deep in their own quicksand they’re hoping those 12 good minutes, against a team with no business threatening them, are enough to pull them out.
“I thought we played fine,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I didn’t love the passing, especially in the first half, but we took care of the ball better in the second half. We missed some wide-open shooters in the first half and didn’t pass them the ball. That disrupted our rhythm and kind of messed with the game a little bit.
“But overall, I thought we got really good shots. The second half was much better with the ball movement, the flow, and the defense was good.”
That this was such a grind demonstrates that the Warriors, even with the return of Stephen Curry, offered little to signify they have solved the issues that have nagged them since their last satisfying win, March 18 over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Golden State once again fell behind early. Shot poorly. Had the kind of defensive lapses that would be fatal against a quality team. There was, until the fourth quarter, a relative absence of the desperation necessary to have any chance of finishing the regular season among the top six teams in the Western Conference.
The loss Tuesday in Miami pushed the Warriors into seventh place, back into the Play-In Tournament box for the first time since the first week of March. Finishing seventh or lower would send a team built around advanced veterans – who would benefit from recovery time before the postseason – plunging immediately into the Play-In Tournament.
Curry, who scored 23 points in his return after missing two games, explained the team’s desire to climb back into the top six in the West.
“It’s extremely important,” he said. “You guarantee a series, and you get a week off. Nobody wants to be in the Play-In if you can control the outcome.”
Sixth place is a pipe dream for the Warriors if they shoot 41.3 percent from the field, including 23.6 percent from distance, as they did against the Pelicans. Or if they allow a team to shoot 68 percent from beyond the arc, as the Heat did three days ago. Or if they allow a team to shoot 57 percent from the field, as the Hawks did last week.
While the Warriors were spending three quarters chasing their heels in New Orleans, their closest competitors, the Los Angeles Clippers, were laying a 132-100 roasting on the sub-mediocre Brooklyn Nets. The only team to beat Los Angeles in the last two weeks is first-place Oklahoma City.
This is the point of the season when teams in the playoff race are supposed to be sharpening their edge, blasting lesser opponents and saving their best for those in the same fight. Los Angeles is trending up. The Warriors, 3-3 over their last six games, are trending sideways.
“The last two games, Atlanta and Miami, there were stretches where we were the more aggressive team and more physical,” Curry said. “We got back in the games, even though offensively, we were struggling.
“If we could just keep that energy and that spirit about us, you have to believe the shots will fall at a higher rate. And then that’s when the dam can open and (we can get back to) the basketball we were playing during that 16-2 stretch.”
Next on the schedule are the Spurs, the last of five consecutive opponents with losing records. If the final 12 minutes in New Orleans are some kind of remedy, it will be apparent in the first 12 minutes Sunday in San Antonio.
So when the Warriors forward declared his team would do it again this season after its big trade-deadline acquisition of Jimmy Butler, he had plenty to back his bold prediction.
“When you’ve done something several times, each time feels different,” Green explained to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke and Monte Poole on the latest “Dubs Talk” episode. “This thing needed to turn for us to win this one. That thing needed to turn for us to win that one.
“But amongst all of them, there’s a feeling you have and you know. And you’re like, ‘Oh, this team can do it and here’s why.’ “
Green made the declaration on Feb. 16 over NBA All-Star Weekend. Butler had played four games with the team by then, in which the Warriors were 3-1.
While it was a small sample size to measure, Green had seen — and felt — enough to speak a fifth championship ring into existence.
“I think when the All-Star break had rolled around, we had played like five games with Jimmy, but I knew the feeling playing in those games,” Green said. “I knew the chemistry. I knew when this thing is going wrong, we got this thing we can go to now. I knew we got Jimmy, that allows us to play small ball, that allows us to go big, that allows us to play different lineups. When you’re trying to win a championship — if you’re going to compete for a championship — you must be able to throw different lineups out there.
“You may remember last year Steph [Curry] and Steve [Kerr] were talking about how we ran out of options. What they were referring to was we could not match any lineup that a team put on the floor. Now, with adding Jimmy, that gives us a much greater chance at matching any lineup that a team could possibly put on the floor. And in the playoffs, that matters.”
The Warriors have gone 16-5 since Butler first suited up on Feb. 8, and they are trying to hold on to the Western Conference’s No. 6 playoff seed in a tight postseason race.
On top of the feeling Green has, he also attributes facts to support his prediction.
“Steph definitely knows how to win a championship,” Green said. “I know how to win a championship. And quite honestly, Jimmy. Jimmy’s gotten to the Finals twice with teams he probably shouldn’t have gotten there with. And to get that far and be on the verge of just one play needing to go your way, he has the know-how. So amongst us three, and don’t add in our maestro who is the guru when it comes to winning championships, he’s got nine of them. We have the know-how — and that’s a big part of it, too.
“Now we have this ability to match lineups, we have this ability to get to the free-throw line, we have this ability to defend. I know what equals. I know how that feels. I also know what the vibe of a championship team feels like — and this team got that. So that’s why I said it. I believe it.”
But there was one final reason Green said what he said on national television during the annual basketball showcase. Despite his proclamation quickly going viral, Green’s message was intended for one specific group.
“And the last reason I said it was because I needed my teammates to understand this is what we’re doing,” Green said. “This is what we’re going after. So more than anybody I was talking to my teammates. I was talking to them.”
The Mavs won their first Summit League regular-season and tournament championships and lost to St. John’s 83-53 as a No. 15 seed to end a 22-13 season.
He was ruled out of Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans and will be re-evaluated next Thursday. While he rehabs the injury on his left shooting hand, Dr. Seth Sherman of Stanford Medicine explained why the road to recovery could be difficult.
“It’s obviously challenging for shooters when it’s your left thumb, that’s critically important,” Dr. Sherman said to NBC Sports Bay Area. “Of course, you can shift and play different roles and still help a team and protect yourself. Defensively, for sure, but there’s no getting around dribbling a basketball, shooting, and, there’s a difference between a stable partial injury where we can live our lives and do the things that make some of us do day-to-day and being in the NBA and performing at that high level.
“So that might lead to a little variability in the time loss, but nonetheless, I don’t think it changes the ultimate prognosis, meaning, injury that’s proven to be partial, stable, if in fact, that’s what it is, usually is something that can be treated conservatively.”
Payton II has been a key piece of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation that has proven to work as of late. In 58 games this season, he’s averaging 6.6 points, 3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 58.5-percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range in 14.9 minutes off the bench.
The 32-year-old recently suffered a non-displaced nose fracture in the Warriors’ win over the Charlotte Hornets on March 3 and has played with a mask for the previous nine games he was active before his thumb injury.
Dr. Sherman explained that his potential return will depend on defining the exact injury and when it occurred, noting it could be a positive sign that Payton II played through the injury in Tuesday’s game.
“He was able to complete the game, so that speaks somewhat to the level of severity,” Dr. Sherman said. “I’m sure they did a careful physical exam. X-rays and perhaps an MRI, which helps hone in on the diagnosis. From all accounts, if it’s a quote-on-quote pain tolerance injury, I think that is a reassuring statement.
“That means that it’s not a huge complete and or surgical or unstable injury. So the time loss associated might be less. I think reevaluation in the short term is kind of the plan, non-surgical treatments for now. Splinting, working on range of motion, getting the swelling down, and then, you know, if it truly is partial stable, seeing how he does, with return to performance, in the short term.”
After New Orleans on Friday, the Warriors will visit the San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers to complete a six-game road trip before returning home to face the Denver Nuggets on April 4.
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
The NBA landscape is currently awash with powerhouse teams jockeying for playoff positioning, but one team seems to be emerging as a favorite: the Boston Celtics. On a recent episode of "The Kevin O'Connor Show," NBA analyst Ben Taylor sparked a conversation about the Celtics being potential NBA Finals favorites. This take wasn't just about their current win-loss record, but a deep dive into the intricacies that make this team uniquely potent.
Look at the Celtics' numbers. In March, they went 12-1 despite Jayson Tatum missing a few games. Kristaps Porzingis had a breakout stretch, averaging over 24 points in a mere 29 minutes per game with impressive shooting splits. As O'Connor put it, "KP, when he's playing at the level that he is now, makes the Celtics feel like the absolute Finals favorites on a tier of their own."
The magic of the Celtics isn't just in individual performances; it's about versatility. Taylor highlighted that both the Celtics and teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder are versatile, often throwing different lineups and coverages to keep opponents on their toes.
But is this surge sustainable? O'Connor voiced concerns over Porzingis’ mysterious illness. "He sat on the bench with an illness that he supposedly couldn't shake," he remarked, dipping into conspiracy theories about possible load management. With the Celtics being cautious about player health, maintaining this pace isn't guaranteed.
Even with their spate of injuries, the Celtics are duking it out in a league where other giants like Oklahoma City and Cleveland are battling for supremacy.
As the season noses toward the playoffs, the Celtics' journey may hinge more on health than heft. Can they keep their stars in peak form?
With Steph Curry back and the injury-riddled New Orleans Pelicans extremely undermanned, the Warriors were back in the win column Friday night at Smoothie King Center, clawing their way to a 111-95 victory.
How they did so wasn’t pretty, nor was it super encouraging. The Warriors didn’t get their first lead of the night until the 4:51 mark of the second quarter. It was a challenge all game long to beat a 20-win Pelicans team that was without the majority of their top players.
Seemingly, the Warriors got better the longer the game went on. After scoring only 21 points in the first quarter, the Warriors scored 29 in the second, 33 in third and outscored the Pelicans by 15 points, 28-13, in the fourth.
Curry, after missing the previous two games to a pelvic contusion, returned and scored 23 points in 34 minutes. He went just 7 of 21 from the field and 5 of 16 on 3-pointers, but his flurry in the second quarter was vital to the Warriors outlasting the Pelicans. Curry also dished a team-high six assists and swiped a game-high three steals.
Joining Curry, Jimmy Butler gave Golden State an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double. Jonathan Kuminga (16 points), Quinten Post (15 points) and Buddy Hield (11 points) also provided needed points off the bench.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors snapping their two-game losing streak.
He’s back
Three is the magic number for Curry. On his third 3-point attempt, Curry was back on the scoreboard after missing two games. That also accounted for the Warriors’ first made 3-pointer of the night after failing on their first 10 attempts.
By then, however, Curry already had four assists and two steals. Curry only scored three points in the first quarter, slicing the Pelicans’ defense with his passing. And then, Curry’s offense arrived in the second quarter.
After getting his legs back under him, Curry exploded for 13 points in the second quarter, going 5 of 8 from the field and 3 of 5 behind the 3-point line. He found his stroke from deep, and turned the jets on. While Curry scored 16 points in the first half, the rest of the starters combined to score 12.
Curry in the second half received more help from his supporting cast, and scored seven points of his own. There’s no way Curry is satisfied with his showing, but having him on the floor clearly made all the difference.
Kuminga’s Strong Showing
Oftentimes, a strong performance from Kuminga jumps off the screen. Think poster dunks and multiple highlight reel plays. But in the Big Easy, the little things went a long way for Kuminga.
Steve Kerr used Kuminga as a screener for Curry multiple times, and even switched things up by having Curry setting inverted screens as well. Kuminga’s actions as a screener allowed him to be utilized offensively in efficient ways. At halftime, Kuminga was the Warriors’ only player in double figures aside from Curry, dropping 10 points on 4 of 7 shooting.
All four of his made shots through the first two quarters were within 10 feet. Plus, Kuminga also tallied five rebounds and two assists by that point.
Kuminga ended up with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. He made his first six free throws before missing his last two. His seven rebounds were his most since missing more than two months to an ankle injury. The only downside to Kuminga’s night was when he banged knees in the fourth quarter with Yves Missi.
It’s the Pelicans, but this is the blueprint for Kuminga.
Trouble From 3
The Warriors watched 10 3-point attempts clank out before finally making one. They were 8 of 9 on 2-pointers in the first quarter, and 1 of 14 from 3-point range. Those numbers at halftime became 14 of 19 on twos (73.7 percent), and 6 of 28 on threes (21.4 percent).
Curry was 4 of 8 on threes in the first half, and the rest of the team combined to go 2 of 20.
Though they made two threes early into the third quarter, the Warriors entered the fourth quarter with a one-point lead while going 10 of 43 beyond the arc. Meanwhile, they had made 20 of their 26 2-point shots.
In the end, the Warriors finished the night going 13 of 55, making 23.6 percent of their 3-pointers. Curry, Post and Hield were the only Warriors to make multiple threes. The rest of the Warriors combined to go 3 of 24. To beat better teams going forward, the Warriors will have to find reliable shooters outside of Curry from long distance.
