November 26th 2024.
The Warriors' hot start to the season has quickly cooled off as they face some familiar challenges from last year. Despite a strong showing in the first month, the team has been struggling to maintain leads and stay competitive in games when star player Steph Curry is off the court. This was evident in their recent loss to the San Antonio Spurs and again when they squandered an 18-point lead against the Brooklyn Nets.
Even with the highest-scoring bench in the league, the Warriors are finding it difficult to keep up with opponents when Curry takes a breather. And when he is on the court, his impressive performances cannot always save the team from defeat. This was the case in their game against the Nets, where Curry scored 28 points but could not prevent a 41-28 fourth-quarter run by Brooklyn.
To make matters worse, the Warriors were also missing rookie Jonathan Kuminga for the second game in a row due to illness. His absence was sorely felt as the team struggled to find a scoring spark. The Nets, on the other hand, were playing on the second night of a back-to-back and were missing several key players. Despite this, they were able to take an early lead, hitting six three-pointers in their first 17 shots.
The Warriors, however, also started strong from beyond the arc, with Curry sinking three consecutive three-pointers. The team's bench then stepped up and went on a 17-5 run in the second quarter, with players like Brandin Podziemski and Lindy Waters III contributing with impressive shots. But the bench's most significant impact was on the defensive end, where they showed more energy and intensity than the starters did in the first quarter.
Rookie Moses Moody also had a standout performance, scoring 15 points in just eight minutes on the court. His ability to finish at the rim and drive to the basket has been a noticeable improvement in his game this season. Moody's efforts helped the Warriors end the first half with a 67-58 lead, outscoring the Nets by 13 points in the second quarter.
The absence of Cam Johnson due to an ankle sprain allowed shooting guard Isaiah Thomas to take on a more significant scoring role for the Nets. He delivered, scoring 23 points in just 21 minutes, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the Warriors' offensive firepower. That is until Dennis Schroder stepped up for the Nets in the fourth quarter.
Schroder's 17 points in the final period helped the Nets mount a comeback and retake the lead. This was a familiar sight for Warriors fans as Schroder has caused problems for the team in previous matchups. With Curry off the court for a scheduled rest, the Nets were able to make their move, and by the time he returned with just over seven minutes left, the Warriors were trailing by five points.
But Curry wasted no time in making his presence felt, setting up a dunk for Kyle Anderson and hitting two more three-pointers to bring the Warriors within three points. However, Schroder continued to have an answer for every Warriors basket, ultimately leading the Nets to a 128-120 victory.
This loss marks the first time this season that the Warriors have lost two consecutive games, and both were their worst performances so far. It's clear that the team has some issues to address, particularly in maintaining leads and staying competitive when Curry is off the court. But with his impressive performances and a strong bench, there is still hope for the Warriors to turn things around and continue their success this season.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
