Road Warriors: Wiggins, Oubre, Jr., Steph Curry sizzle as Golden State scorches Kings in Sacramento, 113-109
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Sat, 19 Dec 2020
December 16, 2020 (Thursday)
San Leandro, California
Any lingering doubts about Steph Curry’s surgically repaired left hand, injured last October 30, 2019 against the Phoenix Suns, were erased last night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Northern California.
In his third and final preseason game, Steph Curry, the Dub’s heart and soul, poured in 17 points in the third quarter matching the Warriors’ largest lead of the night---17 points. He ended the game with a Curry-like 29 points (9-for-23 total and 6-for-13 three-pointers), 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 29 minutes.
The question now is how far along Curry can help his team without Klay Thompson who suffered a second season-ending injury, this time a torn (right) Achilles tendon suffered during a pick-up team game in the off-season.
Thompson missed last year’s NBA season due to a left knee ACL injury.
Two high-profile trades played their part and showed their worth.
Andrew Wiggins scored 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks and converting on two coast-to-coast assists from Curry.
Kelly Oubre, Jr., new Warrior and former Phoenix player, scored 22 points (8 for 12 shooting and 4 rebounds) defended well against Sacramento’s long-range shooters, particularly Kyle Guy who sank the game-winning triple last Tuesday at home against the Warriors.
Of interest, Oubre, Jr. was defending against Steph Curry in the paint along with fellow Phoenix Suns big man Aron Bynes last October 30, 2019 when Curry’s season ended.
At the time, Curry was driving to the basket and later fell hard with Bynes accidentally crashing onto his left hand with 8:31 in the third quarter.
The Warriors subsequently the lost game and #30 for the rest of the 2019-20 NBA season (Suns 121-GSW 110).
Draymond Green and James Wiseman did not play last night due to conditioning issues according to head coach Steve Kerr.
Golden State finished 2-1 in a short preseason due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Game Summary Video Courtesy of the NBA by way of ESPN
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Match Up (Formatted by PhilBoxing.com)
Up Next:
The Warriors open the NBA 2020-21 season with four games away from home.
The first game is against former teammate Kevin Durant and the Nets in Brooklyn, New York on December 22.
On Christmas day, the Dubs then travel to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day.
Rounding up the road trip are the Bulls in Chicago on December 27 and the Pistons in Detroit on December 29.
The Dubs play their home opener January 1 and 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
All photos without byline(s) are the courtesy of NBA.com and Golden State Warriors.
