Down the stretch of Wednesday’s thrilling win, Steph Curry put his Golden State Warriors right where they needed to be: in a position to steal a victory.
Now can he recreate that magic tonight?
Entering the single-elimination game vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, many Dubs fans were worried the Warriors star may not play enough for the team to pull off a win.
Head coach Steve Kerr had made it crystal clear Curry, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford would all be on some sort of minutes restriction against the Clippers. Well that’s the four best players. If they are going to be limited, what are the odds Golden State can win a game it is already favored to lose?
GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
Then Curry said the hell with odds. Give me the basketball.
Curry and Horford’s clutch flurry lumped with Green’s timeless defense flashed the Warriors’ championship mettle. The closing sequence was the greatest reminder to never count out the heart of a champion.
Of course, the Warriors will need more of that from their stars tonight in Phoenix and a gritty Suns team.
So how does Golden State plan to manage its stars this time?
Is Steph Curry Still on a Minutes Restriction? What About the Others?
Entering Wednesday’s showdown inside Intuit Dome, Kerr stated that the Warriors’ top four stars would all be under 40 minutes. That could’ve meant 25 minutes or 39 minutes. But of course, in a game of magnitude, it was to be expected the stars would get dangerously close to that 40-minute cap — especially if the game produced the kind of moments that’ll make your palms sweat.
Indeed that happened.
Porzingis and Horford ended up on a lighter load against the Clippers. Curry and Green, as expected, were left out there a lot more. Curry and Green logged 36 and 35 minutes, respectively. They combined for roughly 18 fourth quarter minutes.
As for tonight’s game, much of the same can be expected.
The stakes are even higher. The Warriors felt great about getting the first win; it channeled that dynastic spirit in them from the old days. They want to win again and get a taste of those NBA playoffs.
Sure, all four stars may be limited to 40 or less, but they could comfortably get close to that number if the situation demands. Considering this is the final game between a Warriors vacation and a playoff berth, it’s possible coach Kerr will backload plenty of minutes in case Golden State finds itself down entering the fourth quarter.
Do the Dubs Have Another Hurrah in Them?
Here we go again.
The Warriors huffed, puffed and blew the Clippers’ house down in the final minutes of Wednesday’s game. That surely took a lot out of them. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the Warriors top four guys in experience have played an average of a decade-and-a-half of NBA basketball.
They’ll have to muster up the energy just 48 hours later.
Against the Suns this season, the Warriors have been successful, boasting three wins in four matchups. Both clubs last met in February in a four-point victory by the Curry and Jimmy Butler-less Dubs.
But going on the road in a hostile playoff environment is a completely different ballgame. Devin Booker can get hot. Dillon Brooks can thrive off riding the fans’ wave of emotions. Grayson Allen can pour in a bunch of 3s at home.
But the Warriors still have the experience and the momentum of coming off a playoff-like victory.
It should be a fun one.
Will Steph Curry Be on a Minutes Restriction vs Suns? Warriors’ Plan for Key Stars Emerges Before Play-In