Instant analysis: Warriors castoff lights up Golden State in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE – A substantial number of the Milwaukee faithful attended Thursday night’s game at Fiserv Forum dressed in colorful Halloween costumes.
But nothing in the stands were as frightening as Milwaukee’s offense in the Warriors 120-110 loss. Even without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, a late scratch with a left knee injury, the Bucks got whatever shot they wanted.
And it was a long-forgotten Golden State castoff who led the way.
Ryan Rollins had himself quite a game against his old team, scoring the Bucks’ first six points on a pair of 3-pointers and putting up a career-high 32 points overall. He nailed a 3-pointer late in the fourth to push the lead to 10.
“I’m happy for him, knowing he’s super-talented, and he’s another mid0major guy trying to make his name in the league,” Curry said of the youngster from Toledo.
Meanwhile, Steph Curry put up 27 points to lead the Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga scored 24 and Jimmy Butler added 23.
Rollins was the Warriors’ No. 44 selection in the 2022 draft, and played 12 games in his rookie season. He was then a part of the Jordan Poole-Chris Paul trade, one that sent the guard to Washington.
“He just needed to play, he needed experience, and we couldn’t really offer that given where we were,” Kerr said before the game. “I’m really happy for Ryan.”
He was coming off a career-best 25 points against Cleveland. With Kevin Porter Jr. out with injury, Rollins made the most of his starting opportunity.
The Bucks went on a 10-0 run to end the first quarter, and then another 12-0 run late in the third quarter. Even though the Warriors actually took a 79-75 lead as late as 3:40 left in the third quarter, the Bucks did not panic.
Golden State (4-2) will try to get back on the winning track in Indianapolis on Saturday.
Emotional letdown? Sort of.
When Draymond Green and Curry got to the arena, they were ready to face Milwaukee’s human battering ram. Instead, they got peppered by outside shots. Did Antetokounmpo’s absence cause the Warriors to drop their guard? That depended on who you talked to.
“When you’re coming to the arena thinking the other team’s star is going to be there, that’s what you prepare for,” Green said, before adding, “They’re NBA players whether Giannis out there or not.”
Wisconsin native Brandin Podziemski, who scored scored nine points off the bench, opined that the team was affected by the unexpected absence.
“The sense of urgency to start the game, knowing that Giannis was out, us just coming out with the same fire,” Podziemski said.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr noted that “We’re like 0-12 the last couple years when (the other team) sit their stars.” He also said that fatigue might be a factor for a team that was playing its sixth game in 10 days during a condensed part of the NBA schedule.
Bucks 3-point bonanza
Milwaukee has built its entire offensive identity around orbiting Antetokounmpo with 3-point specialists who are willing to launch with even the slightest bit of space. They fire up an average of 38 3-pointers per night.
The Greek superstar was not in the lineup, but that shooting remained. Even without his space-bending drives collapsing the defense, the Bucks found ways to create open looks on Rollins, Kyle Kuzma or Cole Anthony drives.
The Bucks shot 13 of 38 from behind the arc Thursday.
The Warriors’ defense, coming off a game against the Clippers where they allowed only 79 points, looked every bit like the unit playing its third game in four nights. Rotations were anything but timely.
Steph’s streak comes to end
Even the best shooter in NBA history is not perfect. Curry clanked a free throw in the fourth quarter, his first miss from the foul line this season.
It snapped his consecutive make streak at 57, the second-longest of his career. He had previously made 80 in a row between 2019 and 2021.