October 28th 2024.
The atmosphere was electric at the Chase Center in San Francisco as the crowd eagerly awaited the home opener of their beloved team, riding high on a hot start to the season. But then, a collective gasp fell over the stadium as their star player, Steph Curry, twisted his left ankle in the third quarter while trying to navigate through a screen. He was immediately taken to the bench, where he received medical attention and stretched with an exercise band.
Despite the setback, Curry returned to the game in the fourth quarter, following his usual substitution pattern. But unfortunately, on the Warriors' first possession, he once again twisted his ankle and had to be helped off the court to the trainer's room. With the 36-year-old out for the remainder of the game with a sprained ankle, his teammates fought valiantly to close the gap against the Clippers' double-digit lead, but ultimately fell short in a 112-104 loss. The Warriors struggled with turnovers and giving up second-chance points, leading to their first loss of the season.
Andrew Wiggins led the team's comeback attempt with 29 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter, but the Clippers' dominance in possession proved to be too much to overcome. Los Angeles held a significant advantage in field goal attempts and capitalized on 14 offensive rebounds and 20 turnovers forced by the Warriors.
The Warriors had started the season with two impressive wins, setting an NBA-record margin of victory of 77 points. They played with a fast pace, fierce defense, and a deep rotation, with everyone contributing and a positive vibe surrounding the team since training camp in Hawaii. However, their opponents, the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz, were expected lottery teams. This time, they faced a tougher opponent in the Clippers.
Despite losing Paul George in free agency and star Kawhi Leonard being out indefinitely, the Clippers were still a strong team, matching up well with the Warriors. They had depth, size, and were led by James Harden. They made sure the Warriors' home opener was not as smooth sailing as their first two games.
The Warriors struggled to keep up with the Clippers' rangy wings, with Buddy Hield, their leading scorer from the first two games, finding it challenging to create separation. Ivica Zubac and Derrick Jones Jr. were particularly troublesome, with Jones hitting clutch 3-pointers and Zubac dominating on the boards. At halftime, Zubac already had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, creating extra possessions for the Clippers with his tip-outs. The Warriors were held scoreless for the first four minutes of the second quarter, and went into halftime trailing 59-54, with the Clippers having taken nine more field goal attempts and forcing 12 turnovers.
The second half started similarly, with the Warriors committing three turnovers in a row, prompting coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout less than two minutes into the third quarter. Despite Curry flashing moments of brilliance, including a spectacular play where he tipped the ball to himself, went behind his back to evade Norman Powell, and finished at the rim, he also struggled with turnovers, committing six in total.
The Clippers always had an answer for the Warriors' attempts to close the gap, with players like Jones and Powell stepping up and hitting shots. The Warriors were able to contain Harden, but the Clippers' secondary players were effective. With just under three minutes left in the third quarter, Curry was forced to leave the court again after re-twisting his ankle. He sat on the bench, using an exercise band to stretch and support his team as they tried to make a comeback.
Curry checked back in with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, with the Warriors trailing by 10. But unfortunately, just seconds later, he re-aggravated his ankle while setting a pick. With Curry out, the Warriors continued to fight, with Kevon Looney leading the charge. He made a steal and scored, cutting the lead to six points. He then scored through contact at the rim and forced a backcourt violation, bringing the Warriors within one point.
But despite their best efforts, the Warriors were unable to take the lead. Draymond Green, who struggled throughout the game, was benched for the last eight minutes. The Warriors were confident in their deep roster of 13 NBA-caliber players, believing it would help them overcome the inevitable injuries and challenges of a long season. However, losing Curry would be a significant blow to the team.
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