SAN FRANCISCO — Listed below are 5 observations from the Golden State Warriors’ 121-115 house win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday evening, bumping them to 16-17 on the season.
Thompson may’ve been the Warriors’ third- or fourth-most vital participant on Tuesday evening. He was restricted to 9 minutes due to foul bother within the first half, responded effectively within the third quarter, had some well timed buckets late, stood up effectively defensively within the Paolo Banchero project and even dunked for the primary time this season.
His ultimate stat line: 15 factors, three rebounds, two assists, three 3s, a plus-4 in 25 minutes. Stable efficiency, however not probably the most notable storyline to emerge from the win over the Magic … till he took the rostrum postgame and redirected his final reply of the evening into most likely his most revealing soundbite of the season.
After the earlier loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Steve Kerr talked concerning the want for an vitality shift inside his struggling group, away from a person path and again to an all-in strategy to wins. He wasn’t solely speaking about Thompson, however it’s clear that Thompson’s brooding outward reactions to his stoop this season have added to a pissed off vibe.
On Monday, Kerr took that dialog on to Thompson and the 2 had an introspective dialogue that seems to have impacted the best way he plans to strategy the season.
“That helped me chill out lots,” Thompson mentioned. “Generally I overlook simply how profitable and the way fortunate I’ve been to be a part of a championship group, All-Star video games, gold medals. You wish to get again to that stage so badly you’ll be able to sort of get in your personal method. Reasonably than forcing it, we had a dialog about having fun with the final chapter of my profession, how fortunate I really am to nonetheless be taking part in this recreation, doing it at a excessive stage, being a greater mentor for these younger guys, main by instance, having my vitality proper each recreation.
“He helped me understand if I do have adverse vitality how that impacts the group in a poor method. So we had an excellent dialog that helped me change my complete mindset and overlook about taking pictures splits or factors per recreation or All-Star video games and simply to get pleasure from being on this Warriors uniform and recognize what we’ve constructed. As a result of it’s such a uncommon alternative for an expert athlete to be part of a lot success and to go that torch to the younger guys and maintain this factor going.”
Fairly revealing Klay Thompson postgame soundbite a couple of dialog he had with Steve Kerr yesterday concerning the necessity to enhance his adverse vitality, be a greater mentor and benefit from the final chapter of his profession moderately than obsess over stats/efficiency pic.twitter.com/a9wIxhnkGh
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 3, 2024
The nice
The Magic are a decent group. They entered the evening 19-13 with two of the league’s higher rising younger wings — Banchero and Franz Wagner — and a gaggle of lively, lengthy position gamers round them. This was at all times going to be a tough matchup for the Warriors.
So it’s certainly one of their higher wins this season. Steph Curry busted out of his mini-slump for 35 factors, his most in just a few weeks, making 12 of 20 pictures and 4 of his 9 3s. He had an and-1 on a 3 within the Warriors’ ultimate possession of the second quarter and a stepback 3 in crunchtime that Thompson felt was the dagger.
“That was ridiculous,” Thompson mentioned.
All 5 Warriors starters had been in double figures for the primary time all season — a brand new beginning lineup that places Curry and Thompson subsequent to Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Paul is beginning to discover his jumper. He made all three of his 3s towards the Magic and has made 13 of his 21 tried 3s the final 4 video games, bringing his season proportion from deep to just about 36 p.c after a frigid begin.
“It ain’t ever felt unhealthy,” Paul mentioned. “I’ve been a shooter my complete life. If it don’t go in, nonetheless you gotta maintain taking pictures.”
Andrew Wiggins additionally crept into double digits, scoring 10 factors on 4-of-7 taking pictures. However he was restricted to 21 minutes as a result of Kuminga carried out so effectively. Kuminga was principally matched up towards Wagner, a pairing with a backstory. The Warriors had been debating between Kuminga and Wagner with the seventh choose in 2021. They chose Kuminga and the Magic took Wagner eighth.
“He wasn’t into the ball sufficient within the first half and Wagner was getting downhill,” Kerr mentioned. “His protection picked up within the second half.”
Kuminga guarded effectively within the fourth quarter and completed with 19 factors, six rebounds, 4 assists and two blocks. He was a plus-10.
The unhealthy
Gary Payton II, in his second recreation again following an extended layoff to cope with a calf subject, was one of many Warriors’ extra impactful gamers. He was a plus-10 in his 10 minutes, selecting up the tempo, guarding full courtroom and flying in for a righty layup on certainly one of his final possessions.
His evening ended early as a result of Payton was once more injured. Attempting to navigate over a display screen whereas defending full courtroom, Payton appeared to step unsuitable and tumbled to the ground, instantly grabbing in the back of his left leg. He was visibly upset, at one level grabbing his headband and spiking it to the ground earlier than limping to the locker room.
The analysis got here shortly. It’s a left hamstring pressure. The Warriors haven’t offered a timetable, however it’s clear Payton will miss a bit of time once more. He’s solely appeared in 16 video games this season.
The ugly
Curry dropped in that spectacular and-1 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left within the second quarter, placing the Warriors up three heading into halftime. However the rating was then tied at 55 by the ultimate buzzer as a result of they gave up this wide-open nook 3.
Essential defensive combine up for the Warriors to shut the primary half. Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins each float away from Gary Harris within the nook, gifting a 3. Orlando inbounded beneath their very own hoop with 3.5 seconds left. pic.twitter.com/EN2733Zz1y
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 3, 2024
For a group that performs with a razor-thin margin — the Warriors have been in an NBA-leading 26 clutch time video games — small errors or a short psychological lapse can price them an vital win. Curry is aware of that. He took the blame for leaving Gary Harris open for that nook 3.
“I gave up that,” Curry mentioned. “You may put that on me. I undoubtedly did that. It’s the easy issues we haven’t completed effectively to execute. These might be swing possessions that change the momentum. Coach (Bob) McKillop used to name it Massive Mo going into halftime. I misplaced Gary in transition, not realizing how a lot time was left. Fortunately we responded within the second half. However these are the issues from a spotlight and execution standpoint I’ve to get higher at and all of us must get higher at if we’re going to take that subsequent leap as a group.”
Draymond non-update
Tuesday evening was the tenth recreation of Draymond Inexperienced’s indefinite suspension. Though he’s permitted to be within the Warriors’ facility and allowed to follow with the group, he has not been round, based on Kerr.
“We’ve been giving him his area,” Kerr mentioned. “He’s been giving us ours.”
There isn’t a lot to replace.
Tonight would be the tenth recreation of Draymond Inexperienced’s indefinite suspension. Steve Kerr mentioned Inexperienced nonetheless hasn’t been within the facility. They’ve had some textual content communication. However no subsequent step replace as of now.
“We’ve been giving him his area, he’s been giving us ours.” pic.twitter.com/NMsOfKrSMV
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 3, 2024
(Picture of Klay Thompson and Paolo Banchero battling for a unfastened ball: D. Ross Cameron / USA As we speak)
