Four takeaways from the Warriors loss to the Spurs
Golden State wasted yet another MVP-caliber performance from Stephen Curry.
After Dejounte Murray’s 3-pointer slipped through the net in the waning moments of a close game, Steph Curry, who scored 14 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, kicked the air in frustration.
Turnovers cost the Warriors in another MVP-caliber performance from Curry, as they fell to the Spurs 105-100 Monday in San Antonio.
With the loss, the Warriors (12-12) drop to 1-2 on this current four-game trip through Texas and are .500 for the first time since Jan. 23. They fall behind the Spurs (14-10) and others in a crowded Western Conference playoff race.
Below, four takeaways from the game.
Do the Warriors need even more from Curry? Since opening the season 5-0 in games in which Curry scored at least 30 points, the Warriors have lost in five of his last six such performances. On Monday, Curry scored 13 points in the first quarter and Golden State took a 14-point lead in the second quarter, but the Spurs defense keyed in on Curry, limited him to just five points in the middle periods and climbed back into the game.
By the time Curry checked in midway through the fourth, Golden State was down seven. He scored 14 points over the final 5:33 and his layup through traffic cut the deficit to one with 23.5 seconds remaining. That’s when Murray made an off-balance 3-pointer to ice the game with 12.6 remaining. Curry finished with 32 points on 10-for-17 shooting (6-for-11 on 3-point attempts), seven rebounds and six assists.
Besides Kelly Oubre Jr. (24 points on 9-for-16 shooting), the Warriors struggled to score when Curry was on the bench. This has been the case nearly all season and especially in the last few games, begging the question of whether or not head coach Steve Kerr should play Curry for longer stints in the fourth quarter. Curry normally plays the entire third quarter and checks in midway through the fourth but, in games like Monday night’s when his teammates are struggling to generate points, the Warriors may have been able to win if Curry had more time.
Asked about this after the game, Kerr shot down the idea.
“I’m into the long game,” he said. “We’re not throwing Steph out there for 40 minutes to chase wins. We got another game tomorrow. We want Steph to be playing at a high level for many years. So we’re going to stay disciplined and try to keep him at that 34, 35-minute mark.”
Turnovers gave the Spurs too many easy points: As Curry struggled to get open for much of the game, Golden State failed to find its rhythm, forced passes and coughed up 20 turnovers that led to 17 points for San Antonio. The Spurs, meanwhile, turned it over just 10 times. That’s 10 additional possessions for San Antonio — and fewer opportunities for Curry to score.
“That’s what lost the game,” Kerr said. “Tough to win in that situation. Turnovers were killer.”
This is what opponents hope to accomplish when double-teaming and triple-teaming Curry. With him bottled up, the Warriors’ offense stalls and players start making risky passes and get the ball in uncomfortable places on the floor. Draymond Green (seven points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) managed to be an outlet, and his screening helped spring Curry open in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors on nights like this need more from Andrew Wiggins (11 points on 4-for-12 shooting) and ball handlers such as Brad Wanamaker (two points, 1-for-5 shooting, no assists).
Green’s gaffe: Despite the turnovers, the Warriors still had an opportunity on the final possession. Down by three, Green brought the ball up but, expecting the Spurs to foul, launched a 3-pointer in the hopes of earning three free throws. However, Gregg Popovich’s Spurs don’t foul in those situations, and Kerr did not instruct Green to try to draw the foul. No Spurs player reached, and the ball fell helplessly as a missed shot. It was a rare mistake in knowing the opponent by Green, who is one of the smartest and most prepared players in the league.
“I should have held onto it,” Green admitted after the game.
Not how they drew it up pic.twitter.com/QVKbIGEMUx
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 9, 2021
No answer for Dejounte Murray: Murray finished with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting, 10 rebounds, eight steals and four assists. Most defenses are willing to give up mid-range looks if it means limiting the more efficient 3-point attempts and shots at the rim. However Murray, one of the best mid-range shooters in the league, can take advantage of that strategy. Seven of Murray’s 10 made field goals came from the mid-range. He paced the Spurs offense while also being the primary defender on Curry. All in all, a sublime two-way performance.