SAN FRANCISCO – With back-to-back away losses behind them and a brutal six-game road trip lying ahead, the Warriors took advantage of the team’s only home game in a 16-day stretch on Sunday evening.
Golden State won 114-83 in what was, mostly, a rock-fight of a basketball game until late in the third quarter.
Jimmy Butler led the team with 21 points, while Moses Moody scored 13, Brandin Podziemski had 14 and Quinten Post scored 14. High-energy rookie Will Richard poured in 15 on a series of cuts and free throws.
The Warriors led 48-41 at halftime despite shooting 37.2% from the field and just 5 of 21 from behind the arc. They shot just 26 of 37 from the free throw line overall.
“I mean we’re not playing well, clearly. We had a great fourth quarter, end of third, and then fourth quarter the ball started moving, there was some flow,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “But overall we haven’t played real well. But I’m very confident in this team.
The teams were tied deep into the third quarter, when the Warriors embarked on a 14-0 Butler, Al Horford and Moody-fueled run to break the game open.
The visiting Pacers, the reigning Eastern Conference champion, came to San Francisco decimated by injuries. Nine different players were ruled out, including four regular starters.
The Warriors were not totally healthy, either. Steph Curry missed his third consecutive game while recovering from an illness.
However, the face of the franchise was an active participant on the sidelines while wearing white sweatpants and a jacket. Curry sat next to the coaches and could be seen having conversations with teammates during timeouts.
Kerr said he hopes Curry will be ready to play when the Warriors (6-4) travel to Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
Horford impact
If Horford, 39, was feeling the effects of a sore left foot that held him out of Friday’s game, he did not show it against Indiana. After missing all seven of his shots against Sacramento on Wednesday, Horford was 4 of 6 from behind the arc and scored 12 points.
He also dished out an assist while grabbing four rebounds in 18 minutes. Horford played the role the Warriors need him to thrive in if the team is to succeed this season.
“I feel good today,” Horford said. “I feel much better and it was just good to get back out there.”
Horford’s offense was stellar, but his defense was just as impressive. He racked up three blocks and influenced a handful of other shots, using timing rather than athleticism to protect the rim.
Slow start
Despite facing a skeleton crew, the Warriors’ offense looked like it was playing an elite defensive unit in the first quarter. They shot just 8 of 24, making 5 of 14 3-pointers.
Turnovers, as have often been the case, set the offense back. The Warriors had four giveaways, which led the way to seven Pacers points and greased the wheels for a similarly sluggish Pacers attack (8 of 25).
Kuminga’s shooting struggles
With a little under six minutes left in the second quarter, Jonathan Kuminga cut along the baseline on the fastbreak before skying for a lob from Podziemski.
The Chase Center crowd, desperate to cheer for something in a game still stuck in the 30s, rose to their feet in unison. They promptly returned to their seats, disappointed, when Kuminga was unable to finish the dunk.
After shooting just 3 of 10 against Denver, Kuminga struggled to put the ball in the basket for the second consecutive night despite receiving a bundle of opportunities with Curry sitting. Kuminga scored just five points on 1-for-9 shooting, including 0-for-5 on 3-point shots. He did not play in the fourth quarter, but both Kerr and Butler said there was nothing to be concerned about long-term.
“The game will never be dictated, won or lost, if JK misses two shots, or if he turns the ball over once,” Butler said. “It’s never gonna come down to one person. I just want him to keep that confidence high, knowing that he belongs in this league, knowing he’s a starter on this team, and that its going to turn around for him.”
Podziemski was not a flamethrower from the field, shooting just 4 of 11 and rarely putting pressure on the defense as a driver. However, he remained effective as one of the team’s few effective ballhandlers, and was part of the unit that expanded the fourth quarter led to 20.
Moody provides a spark
In a game where every possession was a slog, Moody’s four-point play late in the third quarter brought the crowd to life. He collected the ball in front of the team’s bench and hoisted a desperation triple while being fouled by Monte Morris.
Moody turned to exult in his teammates’ ensuing celebration, and the following made free throw helped Golden State take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter. Flashing an improved 3-point stroke that has helped him shoot 44% from behind the arc, Moody made 3 of 9 triples and scored 13 off the bench.
Much like Horford, his energy on defense was infectious and helped turn the game around.
