Steph Curry didn’t journey to Atlanta, and neither did the Warriors’ protection.
Golden State yielded 40 factors within the first quarter and by no means slowed down the Hawks, who shot 57% from the sphere within the sport. Atlanta outscored the Warriors 60 to 44 within the paint as middle Onyeka Okongwu (22 factors, 12 rebounds, six assists) managed the lane.
The 124-115 loss suggestions off a six-game, two-week street journey. Golden State (41-30) is tied with the Clippers within the loss column, clinging on to sixth place by share factors.
The Warriors at the moment are 16-3 with Jimmy Butler within the lineup. They’ve already confirmed they will win with out Curry, however it didn’t appear to be it in State Farm Area — the place Golden State has dropped six straight video games.
“It’s a bad loss,” Draymond Inexperienced informed reporters postgame. “Terrible loss. We’re in the position where we have the chance to compete with something, 11 games left…you shouldn’t have a loss like that. Too much on the line. Got to win the games you’re supposed to win.”
Curry didn’t journey with the workforce to Atlanta as he recovers from a pelvic contusion. Jimmy Butler led the Warriors in scoring with 25 factors and eight rebounds whereas Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga offered boosts as nicely.
Curry is due for a re-evaluation on Monday, earlier than the Warriors’ subsequent sport. Being compelled to play with out Curry isn’t the worst factor for the Warriors, particularly if Curry’s damage isn’t a long-term difficulty.
Simply this week, Golden State defeated the Bucks with out Curry, who bought the night time off for psychological and emotional recuperation. Having gamers learn to play off Butler when he must be extra aggressive will be beneficial playoff preparation reps.
However the Hawks aren’t pushovers. Rating fifth in factors per sport for the reason that All-Star break, Atlanta pushed the tempo — even after made baskets — and put the Warriors in fixed binds with excessive pick-and-rolls.
Trae Younger began 3-for-3 with eight factors and 4 assists, choosing aside the Warriors in a 40-23 first quarter. The Warriors aggressively double-teamed Younger towards the tip of the primary body and past, hoping to pressure his teammates to beat them.
They did. Onyeka Okongwu nailed a pair of 3s, and Terance Mann caught one, too. And ultimately, George Niang knocked down the whole lot.
The Hawks led by 20 earlier than Jonathan Kuminga discovered a little bit of a rhythm within the second quarter. The fourth-year wing made Atlanta pay in transition with a layup, transformed an and-1 inside and in addition pulled up for a midrange jumper. His increase, plus a nook 3 from Moses Moody, inched the Warriors inside 13.
Kuminga bottomed a 3-pointer after which discovered Buddy Hield for one more one within the nook, however the Warriors nonetheless couldn’t string collectively stops. Atlanta ceaselessly put Quinten Submit into actions, difficult the rookie middle to make reads towards Younger within the pick-and-roll. Submit has gotten focused extra usually not too long ago as groups add extra particulars to their scouting studies. At one level, Curry reminded Submit to not lose his confidence when groups go at him, regarding the rookie.
The beneficiary of the Hawks’ technique was usually Okongwu, who tallied 18 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists within the first half.
Submit and Brandin Podziemski opened the second half with 3-pointers to claw inside six. That pair has been dialed in from deep not too long ago and went 8-for-12 from behind the arc within the sport.
Atlanta stored surging, slashing into the lane at-will and both ending or kicking to open shooters. Too usually, the Warriors surrendered drives down the center. Golden State tried Trayce Jackson-Davis because the Hawks stretched their lead again out to 19. Even after forcing misses, Golden State struggled to shut out possessions with rebounds.
George Niang poured in six 3-pointers and 23 factors off the bench, serving to Atlanta decipher the Warriors’ zone protection that fleetingly seemed prefer it may very well be a comeback instrument.
What actually impressed a comeback was locked-in protection from Draymond Inexperienced and Gary Payton II spending extra time checking Younger. Podziemski and Moses Moody every drew prices in addition to the Warriors repeatedly turned Atlanta over within the fourth.
The Warriors went on a 16-3 run and a Moody nook 3 made it an eight-point sport with 2:30 left.
However that was as shut as they’d get within the enviornment they will’t appear to win at.
Initially Printed: March 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM PDT
