SAN FRANCISCO — The speaking level across the Warriors over the previous two days has been about how their younger gamers can higher mess around Steph Curry.
However in opposition to the Pacers on Monday, they weren’t the issue. Curry was.
Head coach Steve Kerr directed pointed feedback towards Jonathan Kuminga and others about passing the ball and avoiding unhealthy pictures. That message, no less than on Monday, was acquired.
Kuminga (26 factors, eight rebounds) led the sport in scoring and performed the type of under-control, sensible basketball Kerr has sought. Brandin Podziemski performed with wonderful power and crammed in gaps on each ends. Trayce Jackson-Davis feasted within the paint.
However Curry performed passively, trying solely 4 pictures within the first half. When the Warriors wanted him to take over the fourth, he couldn’t snatch a rhythm out of skinny air.
Curry completed with 10 factors on 2-for-13 taking pictures in a 111-105 defeat. After beating the Timberwolves in what Kerr thought could have been a breakthrough throughout a brutal dropping skid, the Warriors (15-13) couldn’t pull out a winnable recreation and have now misplaced 10 of their final 13 contests.
The Warriors weathered 4 turnovers within the first 5 minutes to remain in lockstep with the speedy Pacers. Trayce Jackson-Davis, who began the season on a weird ending stoop, slammed down 4 early dunks. He’d erupted for a 15-point, nine-rebound efficiency in opposition to Minnesota, signaling he has rediscovered his contact across the rim.
Kuminga, the topic of a lot current ire, supplied a significant enhance off the bench. As an alternative of the robust midrange pictures Steve Kerr has taken exception to, Kuminga obtained to the basket and made the appropriate performs.
On a short-roll catch, Kuminga discovered Buddy Hield for a nook 3. He beat his man off the dribble for a lefty layup, completed a loopy and-1 tip shot off a lob, stored a possession alive with an offensive rebound and laid in one other bucket off a pleasant minimize. The whole lot clicked when the Warriors performed Kuminga on the 4 subsequent to Draymond Inexperienced in a small-ball lineup to start out the second quarter; in that setup, he might patrol the dunker spot and act as a diver.
Kuminga crashed all the way down to the paint defensively, pushed the tempo and located Moses Moody for a 3. Then he performed pitter-patter inside with Inexperienced for a dunk, cementing a 14-4 run through which he scored or assisted on 12 Warriors factors.
As a result of Indiana doesn’t have a conventional back-to-the-basket heart, it was a lot simpler for the Warriors to play Inexperienced at heart for lengthy stretches. They closed the half with that look, nevertheless it was a lot much less profitable the second time round. Indiana obtained sizzling offensively, blitzing the Warriors for a 12-3 run.
Kuminga subbed again in two minutes into the second quarter for Inexperienced, who headed to the locker room. He returned to the bench six recreation minutes later, however didn’t verify again in till the fourth quarter.
With out Inexperienced, Golden State’s protection struggled to get stops. TJ McConnell sank three 3-pointers from the identical nook — matching his made 3s whole coming into Monday — and Indiana constructed a 12-point lead.
However Curry, who missed his first 5 area purpose makes an attempt, drilled a deep 3 and Hield cleaned up one other miss for a putback for a 7-0 run coming into the fourth quarter.
Two video games earlier than Monday, Curry had one of many worst video games of his profession — a two-point, 0-for-7 dud in opposition to Memphis. However the Pacers guarded him far more historically than the Grizzlies, who glued a face-guarding defender to him always. Indiana simply blitzed him off screens, forcing him to be a passer.
Again-to-back buckets from Wiggins tied the sport at 89 lower than a minute into the ultimate body. Podziemski stripped McConnell and drew a cost in opposition to Pascal Siakam.
When Kuminga returned, he canned a nook 3 — off an on-time Podziemski kickout — and earned free throws by holding a play alive with two offensive rebounds. The fourth quarter is Curry’s however even he can’t do it alone.
Kuminga skied for one more offensive rebound and second-chance layup to cross the 20-point threshold.
Curry entered right into a tied recreation for his ultimate stint. Down three with as many minutes left, he missed a clear look from above the break. At that time, he was 2-for-12 from the sector.
To inch inside two, Curry discovered Dennis Schroder within the dunker spot for his eighth help. However when he backpedaled into the nook for a step-back 3, his shot fell brief, and Myles Turner hit the dagger 3 on the opposite finish.
The Warriors, continuously in shut video games, are actually 8-10 in clutch video games this yr. Earlier on this season, when the Warriors began 12-3, Curry placed on his cape in fourth quarters. It should’ve been on the dry cleaner’s for the vacations on Monday evening.
