Santa Clara – Stephen Curry scored a game-high 13 points in another Warriors loss. Golden State’s long homestand started off rocky. The Warriors fell flat 114-102 against the Miami Heat tonight. Tonight’s loss snapped the Warriors’ season-high eight game home win streak. This is the first game this season Golden State did not make at least 10 threes.
“They scored 69 points in two quarters,” said Steve Kerr. “They took control of the game. One of those nights, we have been in every game, it seems like all year. You look at the box score, they had seven turnovers, 26 assists, they controlled the game. We got out coached, out worked and out played.”
The Heat dominated in the paint while the Warriors struggled everywhere else. The lack of rebounding with the starters is taking a toll. Kevon Looney is tired, and it shows, he finished with 5 points and five rebounds. Jonathan Kuminga is picking up the slack but it’s not enough. Golden State outscored the opponent bench for the 26th time this season (tonight, 51-44).
The Warriors ended the first up 25-22 but fell behind after that, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson finished the night with 13 points each. A low scoring game for both, who missed shots from all corners off the floor. It wasn’t Curry’s night and it showed.
“It wasn’t his night,” Kerr said on Curry’s night. “Guys are going to have some tough nights, stretches, and I am not worried about Steph, that is for sure. It was just a night where we just couldn’t get anything going.”
Trayce Jackson-Davis posted his third-career double-double, recording 10 points and 11 rebounds. He leads all rookies with double-doubles as a reserve and has totaled the fourth-most double-doubles among all rookies. Kuminga tallied his 11th consecutive game scoring in double figures, extending a career-best streak.
“I think that in the first half they punched us in the mouth,” said Jackson-Kerry. “We responded going into the half. In the second half they did the same thing, and we just didn’t respond very well. They got that lead, sat on it and we tried to push back but it was a little too late.”
Curry finished the first quarter with 0 points. Despite being tied at 20-20, Golden State lost the battle in rebounding, leaving that up to the second unit to get the team back in the game. The loose balls and turnovers are piling up and taking a toll on the success of the team.
“A lot of it is on us,” Thompson said. “I think when they zoned us, our offense was too stagnant then trying to cut more off the ball rather than drive and kick. Including myself, we were just to content standing around the perimeter instead of playing with more force, getting into the paint, getting your teammate open, and taking great shots.
“In the second quarter I think our offense got a little too stagnant. Our resistance at the rim was lacking and those two things combined together is not good. They played good defense, so it is not the best night for the team.”
Up Next: The Warriors host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, December 30 at 5:30 p.m. PST… It marks the second game of the Warriors’ current seven-game homestand.
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