What we learned as Steph’s blowout saves Dubs in win over Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors on Saturday night at Chase Center led after the first quarter, second quarter and third quarter. It looked like they were about to squander the lead in the fourth quarter.
That is, until Steph Curry said otherwise in a thrilling 125-116 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Curry showcased a fourth-quarter superstar display and overtime that will be seen on all flagship shows. He led the Warriors with 36 points. A slow start didn’t matter to the all-time legend.
Of his 36 points, 29 came between the second half and overtime.
Klay Thompson was down 22 points, Donte DiVincenzo’s 20 points were huge and JaMychal Green scored a season-high 18 points off the bench. For so long, the Bucks have been the best team, even without their best player, Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the end, the Warriors’ grit on their home turf gave them victory in the blink of an eye on a three-game losing streak.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors improving to 35-33 this season and 28-7 at home.
Splash Brothers in the second half
At halftime, JaMychal Green was the Warriors’ leading scorer with 13 points. DiVincenzo was close behind with 12. The Splash Brothers – Curry and Thompson – had combined for … 11 points.
Curry was 3 of 9 in the first half and only made one of his five shots from beyond the arc. Thompson had three fouls to his name and only one successful shot. Then came the second half.
Klay came alive with 11 points and three 3-pointers in the third quarter. Curry added seven as the Warriors held a slim lead going into the fourth. The last regulation period, however, was all about No. 30.
He scored 13 points in the fourth, with his clutch gene oozing out of his right arm. Enjoy it all. Three days before his 35th birthday, Curry reminded everyone how special he really is.
In overtime, Curry added nine more points and Thompson also gave Golden State four. They’re the greatest ground-breaking shooters of all time for a reason. It was a statement, and a strong reminder why.
Milwaukee Men
Milwaukee natives Kevon Looney and Jordan Poole swapped places Saturday night in San Francisco. Poole returned to the bench, with Looney back in the starting lineup. Here’s how the two fared against their hometown team.
Looney did what he always does, taking all the little things out of a game. The rim wasn’t kind throughout the night with Looney as he shot 3 of 11. But he also finished with a double-double, scoring a game-high 11 points and 15 rebounds.
He also had a career-high five interceptions.
Poole’s top-down season continued. His four assists came in the first quarter. He scored 13 points off the bench, but shot 4 of 13 overall.
Then there’s DiVincenzo. The former Buck had another great game against his old team. In addition to his 20 points, DiVincenzo had six threes and had 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. The eyesight test matched the numbers put forward as DiVincenzo was a plus-17.
Breaking the curse of the first trimester
Kiss a friend, share a kiss and open a cold one. The Warriors, in what seems like an eternity, finally led after the first quarter. In fact, it took a month to do it.
Although it ended with a 3-point corner from Bobby Portis at the buzzer, the Warriors led 28-26 early in the second quarter. It’s the first time since Feb. 11, exactly a month ago, that the Warriors were up after the first quarter.
They had gone 11 straight games without a lead after one period ended, and trailed in 10 of them.
Breaking the ugly streak also came with a surprise contributor. Curry wasn’t the one putting on a show. He only had two points and missed both of his 3-point attempts. Thompson scored four points and picked up two early fouls.
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JaMychal Green was the one who put points in clusters. The veteran big man scored 11 points in just under six minutes off the bench, going 4 of 7 from the field and 3 of 5 at three.
The Warriors committed one less turnover than the Bucks in the first quarter, had three more assists and grabbed two more rebounds than them. That works. Now it’s about the Warriors repeating their first quarter success and staying out of the first holes.
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