Stephen Curry capped his 17-point performance with a game-tying three-pointer, then turned his own miss into an offensive rebound and assist on Brandin Podziemski’s go-ahead three as the Golden State Warriors outlasted the Sacramento Kings, 110-105, in San Francisco yesterday (Philippine time).
De’Anthony Melton had a game-high 21 points and Podziemski finished with 20 for the Warriors (37-42), who ended a four-game losing streak while resting Kristaps Porzingis on the first night of a four-games-in-six-days sequence.
Killian Hayes led a balanced attack with 18 points off the bench for the Kings (21-59), who dropped their second in a row.
Using a 13-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, the Kings erased a deficit which had been as large as 16 points, setting up a tight finish.
A three-pointer by Doug McDermott broke a 101-all tie and gave the Kings one final lead with 2:53 to go before Curry countered immediately with his fourth three-pointer of the night.
Curry then couldn’t connect on a potential go-ahead three-pointer out of the right corner with 1:58 to go, but had the rebound bounce right back to him. Rather than take a 15-footer, he elected to pass to Podziemski above the top of the key, then watched the left-hander drill his fourth three-pointer of the night for a lead Golden State never relinquished.
Two free throws by Seth Curry and one by Melton secured the win.
In the first of two meetings with their Northern California rival this week, the Warriors finished the half on a 28-16 run that opened a 66-53 halftime lead.
Melton had a pair of three-pointers to get the ball rolling, but it was Curry who stole the show, drilling a 26- and 24-footer while being fouled, then completing a pair of four-point plays.
In just his second action since a 27-game absence due to a sore right knee, the Golden State star had 14 of his points in the half.
Charles Bassey produced a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double for the Warriors, while Pat Spencer also tallied 14 points and Gary Payton II 12. Draymond Green chipped in with a game-high seven assists.
Maxime Raynaud (17 points), McDermott (16), Precious Achiuwa (13), Nique Clifford (12) and Daeqwon Plowden (11) also scored in double figures for the Kings. Dylan Cardwell chipped in with a team-high nine rebounds and Devin Carter a team-high five assists for the visitors. (Field Level Media / Reuters)