warriors vs hawks recap (Photo: @vipvern Instagram account)
ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — The Golden State Warriors went back and forth with the Atlanta Hawks for a little while at the beginning, then pulled away at the end of the first half, which would lead to a similar performance in the second half, leading to their 111-97 win.
The Warriors had a nice 4-2 road trip before this game and now play 12 out of their next 19 at #Roaracle to end the season after tonight.
After tonight’s win, the Dubs improve to 39-24 on the season, while Atlanta falls to 26-34.
FIRST QUARTER
David Lee got the Warriors on the board for the first time tonight with a little jump hook into the lane, that would be 2 of his 18 points on the night.
Klay Thompson was very active early on, scoring six points before leaving the game and not returning due to a lower back strain:
Klay Thompson cringes with pain inside the tunnel. #WarriorsTalk pic.twitter.com/o17V0k7nuS
— CSN Warriors News (@CSNWarriors) March 8, 2014
Klay Thompson is on the bench but will not return as a precaution per the #Warriors with a strained back @sfbay
— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) March 8, 2014
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Thompson has never missed an NBA game (211 and counting). If he doesn't return, it'll be the fewest minutes he's played in an NBA game (6).
— Geoff Lepper (@geofflepper) March 8, 2014
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Andre Iguodala added to the Warriors solid start by a nice take to the basket, which would result in him making two free throws. Warriors started off the game very hot, making 6 out of their first 7 shots, although the Hawks were also hot. They would lead 32-31 after the first quarter against the Hawks.
SECOND QUARTER
The shooting percentage from the first quarter carried over into the second quarter. Things were definitely going well as Iguodala splashed in a three and Jordan Crawford got a tough fall-away to go and was fouled.
The Dubs ended the half on a 10-0 run to push their lead to 14. Warriors led at half 66-52 and were led by Lee and Stephen Curry.
#Warriors end the half on a 10-0 run. @Dlee042 leads the Dubs w/ 14pts, while @StephenCurry30 has 13pts/7ast. #LetsGoWarriors
— Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) March 8, 2014
THIRD QUARTER
At the beginning of the third quarter, #DubNation got the news that Thompson would not return to the game, for precautionary reasons. To add on to all the weird things happening in tonight’s game, Andrew Bogut blew out his right shoe closing out on an Antic three point attempt.
The lead has started to slip away from the Warriors but Draymond Green bailed them out by hitting a huge three to get the lead back to seven. The Warriors after three quarters led Atlanta 77-70.
Boguts shoe torn #LetsGoWarriorsLive pic.twitter.com/QTULxPuNws
— LetsGoWarriors (@LetsGoWarriors) March 8, 2014
FOURTH QUARTER
Defense was a huge key in this quarter for Golden State as they held Atlanta scoreless for almost seven minutes to start off the quarter. Yes, you heard right: seven minutes.
The play of the night went to Crawford’s alley oop to Iguodala, which really got the crowd into it.
Jermaine O’Neal had a nice fourth quarter and again was huge off the bench scoring 17 points. The Warriors would go on to beat the Hawks, 111-97.
Bench production was and has been a huge key to the Warriors recent successes:
Over the last seven games, the Warriors bench is averaging 39.9 points. They had been averaging 24.3 points
— GSWStats (@gswstats) March 8, 2014
After the game, head coach Mark Jackson said about O’Neal, “It’s easy to forget that some are saying this is his last year. The guy has plenty left in his tank.”
RECAP ROUND-UP
Sarah Todd of SFBay.ca:
The Hawks chipped away at the Warriors 66-52 halftime lead, with Atlanta’s reserve big man Pero Antic going one-on-one with Andrew Bogut.
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After multiple crossovers and fakes, Antic stepped back for a 23-foot jumper that went in with ease, cutting the Warriors lead to just four and leaving Bogut shaking his head.
Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
The Warriors (39-24, 19-10 home) went on a 15-0 run between the third and fourth quarters to take control of the game. They took a 97-77 lead before the Hawks cut into the final margin.
It was already over.
Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area:
Five Warriors scored in double figures, led by 18 points from power forward David Lee and 17 points in 19 minutes from backup center Jermaine O’Neal.
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Starting guard Klay Thompson left the game midway through the first quarter, clutching his lower back after taking a hard fall. He was diagnosed with a strained lower back and did not return.
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The Warriors (39-24) did just fine without their third-leading scorer, forcing 18 Atlanta turnovers (off which they scored 22 points) and shooting 53.8 percent in going 15 games over .500 for the first time since April 2008.
Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area News Group:
Atlanta took a brief lead in the second quarter, but the Warriors went on a 10-0 run over the final 3:10 of the period to take a 66-52 lead into halftime. After defense was absent for most of the first half, they picked it up considerably to close the quarter.
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Golden State shot 60 percent for the half, a total that steadily rose as the second quarter wore on. Atlanta shot above 60 percent in the first quarter but made only 8 of 23 shots in the second quarter and was 4 of 17 from 3-point range in the half.
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The Hawks trimmed much of the Warriors’ 14-point lead in the first eight minutes of the third quarter. A step-back jumper by Pero Antic over Andrew Bogut got Atlanta within 74-70.
Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle on Thompson’s injury:
It’s unclear exactly when Thompson was injured. He took a hard fall and grabbed the back of his head after Paul Millsap knocked him off of a sweep into the lane at the 6:54 mark, and then he crouched over at the free-throw line after being fouled by Elton Brand at the 5:58 mark.
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After making both of his free throws, Thompson tried to retreat on defense, but his back appeared to seize. He called for a sub, fouled Jeff Teague away from the ball and then hobbled toward the locker room. Once Thompson thought he was out of sight, he keeled over in the Warriors’ tunnel.
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Thompson returned to the bench for the second half, but he never returned to the game. The Warriors said he didn’t play in the second half because of precautionary reasons.
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Anything that keeps Thompson out of the lineup seems to be a big deal. He has never missed a game, having played 213 consecutive times. Thompson was 10th in the league in minutes played (36.6) and was third in the league with miles run (156.9).
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He sat on the bench during the second half, getting up and flexing his back only when one of the teams called timeouts.
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He had plenty of times that he could have gotten up and cheered – if he had felt better. The Warriors (39-24) won for the eighth time in 10 games, abusing Atlanta (26-34) with 66 points in the paint and 21 points in transition.
[NOTE: Poor Man’s Commish contributed to this report.]
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