Stephen Curry does not fail: neither when plugging in important triples nor when giving a show. The star of the Golden State Warriors, with a late 3-point shot with 14 seconds to go, won the game for his team against the leaders of the NBA, a Utah Jazz who lost 119-116 despite a fierce comeback attempt.
The league leading scorer nailed his averages again with a display of 36 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals of the ball even though he did not have one of his best nights in shooting (11-25 TC; 3-13 3P). Curry did not hesitate to take the winning shot moments after missing another similar triple.
The confidence of the ’30’ is through the roof, and this is what worries teams like the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Lakers that are on their way to face the Warriors in the play-in tournament. Golden State sent a message to potential opponents in the postseason: they will be a headache whatever happens.
Jordan Clarkson scored 41 points and Bojan Bogdanovic added 27 points for some Jazz that continue to take care of the legs of their All Stars Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley, injured for several weeks.
The Warriors entered the fourth quarter with an 89-75 lead after a 3-point shot from Jordan poole, who disguised himself as Curry on the play. Utah’s final 12 minutes showed his ambition to try to secure the best record in the NBA. Despite a 30-41 run in the fourth quarter, the Jazz stayed on the edge.
From there a devastating Curry observed them even on their nights of bad aim. The merit of the triumph for Steve Kerr’s team was coral, and is that the teammates of the chef on the perimeter had to put the points on behalf of their partner in the first half.
Poole finished with 20 points, Kent Bazemore added 19 and Andrew Wiggins he contributed 14 points to the triumph of the Warriors, located in the eighth place despite the push of the Grizzlies from behind. Draymond greenOnce again, he did everything for the team with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists in the game.
Some of Utah’s usual suspects had less prominent nights: Joe Ingles finished with 5 points and 5 assists (1-6 3P) and Georges niang he contributed 9 points (1-4 3P). Fulfilled Rudy gobert, author of 10 points and 16 rebounds but an unhelpful asset to curb the Warriors’ power from the perimeter.
Despite the defeat, the Jazz did capture a record absolute last night when making sure an average of more than 13 triples per game in this pandemic season in the NBA. It is yet another sign that times are irretrievably changing.