warriors game day (Photo: Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty via Warriors.com Gameday)
ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — The anticipation was high once again as the Golden State Warriors were back for just their second home game in 13 of the last 20 games. Drivers at the entrance at 66th Ave were greeted with a #LetsGoWarriors on ye olde mini-light-bulb (note: not LCD board) outside.
PRE-GAME
From our Instagram account, you knew the previous day that Klay Thompson seemed to be okay despite suffering a strained back in the win against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. There were also tweets from Warriors beatwriters, but his shootaround was even more proof in the pudding.
The Santa Cruz #SplashBrothers, Seth Curry and Mychel Thompson were in the house and ready to take over the @warriors Twitter account in the 2nd quarter. Shortly thereafter, Klay took time out to sign autographs for #DubNation.
Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek, an ex-NBA player like the Warriors’ Mark Jackson, pointed to similarities in re-establishing the culture for certain franchises: “Mark’s been a guy that’s been on several winning teams,” Hornacek said, “Play hard and play together and you’ll win games.” Meanwhile, Stephen Curry also looked fine, but Jackson announced that Curry would have “limited minutes” due to the quadricep injury.
IN-GAME
The Suns got off to a good start as Goran Dragic played like an All-Star snub. Gerald Green also displayed moves and stepback jumpers that weren’t prevalent early in his career. Phoenix took an early 23-14 lead with 2:41 to go. David Lee had 6 points. It was Suns 29, Warriors 22 by the end of the first quarter. Green had upped his total to 9 points while Dragic tallied 6 points and 4 assists.
With 5:09 to go in the opening frame, the Suns were still ahead, 42-36. By now, Green was up to 12 points, while Lee countered with 8. By halftime, Green and Dragic had 14 points apiece, with Dragic adding 4 assists. Lee had 12 points but just 2 rebounds to go along with that.
According to @davidaaronson on Twitter, it was this little girl’s first time at #Roaracle, which brought to mind the piece on Bob Myers that morning in the SF Chronicle, which reported Myers’s first experience as a six-year-old Warriors fan. We also had a piece on Myers recently.
In the third quarter, the Warriors came out and played great defense, which led to some great offense as well. Thompson’s trey not only gave the Warriors a 74-73 lead over the Suns, but also launched #DanceCam.
Being in #ROARacle, let alone courtside, when Klay hit the three that turned the game around, is exactly what makes Warriors home games so special. The Warriors went on a 38-17 tear to take a 94-78 lead over the Suns heading into the fourth quarter.
With 5:48 remaining, the Warriors remained in control, 105-96. Despite six missed free throws albeit with still at least a two-possession cushion over the Suns, the Warriors eventually won by the final score of 113-107. Lee led the way with 26 points, 9 rebounds. Thompson scored 22 points and made 4 three-pointers.
POST-GAME
After the game, Warriors head coach Mark Jackson compared the impact that a shooter like Thompson has against defenses with that of Jackson’s former teammate, Reggie Miller. Meanwhile, Curry wondered about Jackson asking him in-game about how he feels, in reference to injuries and limiting minutes: “I’m surprised he still even asks ’cause he already knows the answer.”
Lee talked about the leadership of Curry, but gave us an evil stare. Maybe he was just in deep thought. Maybe he was under our spell. Who knows! Andrew Bogut discussed how he and Andre Iguodala have an unspoken connection on alley oops. Prior to that, Bogut gave credit to Thompson being a shooting threat, making his connection with Iguodala possible in the first place.
NEXT GAME
The Warriors return to #WarriorsGround tomorrow night, Tuesday, March 11th, to face Monta Ellis, Dirk Novitzki, and the Dallas Mavericks, who are battling for one of the last playoff spots and looking up at the Warriors in the standings. The last time the two teams played, the Dubs had to rally back and Curry hit the first game-winner of his career.
Be sure to check back here, on Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest leading up to the game!
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
