Warriors finally pull off close win, hope it’s ‘turning point’

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors have been on the wrong end of plenty of close games over the past few weeks as they tumbled from a 12-3 start to a .500 record entering Saturday’s showdown with the former teammate Kevin Durant and Phoenix. Sun.

But led by a huge performance from Jonathan Kuminga, who tied a career high with 34 points, and timely play down the stretch from recent addition Dennis Schroder, Golden State escaped with a 109-105 victory.

Even though it was just one win, Draymond Green saw no reason why it couldn’t be the start of the Warriors getting their season back on track.

“When I look at where the season turned, it turned in San Antonio and Brooklyn, those back-to-back games,” Green said, referring to the first two losses of the team’s 3-12 stretch entering Saturday’s match. “That was the turning point. There’s no reason why this can’t be a turning point to turn it around.

“But you’ve got to build on that. It’s just not going to happen. You’re not out of the woods. We’re 16-and-15, so we’ve got to pick up some wins. I think we’re capable of doing the.”

It largely looked like Saturday’s game would be another agonizingly close loss for Golden State, which was coming off a two-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day and a spirited performance that nonetheless resulted in a loss on Friday ​​night for the LA Clippers with both Green and Stephen Curry sitting.

With Green and Curry back on the court Saturday, Golden State still found itself trailing most of the night despite Green scoring all 16 of his points in the first half. Kuminga also had an outstanding game off the bench, shooting 12-for-20 from the floor, going to the free throw line 12 times, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out three assists.

But the Warriors took the lead back with 1:23 left when Schroder — who has struggled mightily since joining Golden State in a trade two weeks ago from Brooklyn — stepped up and buried a 3-pointer after Andrew Wiggins grabbed an offensive rebound from his own miss.

It was the first of a couple of key plays from Schroder down the stretch. He then forced a Durant turnover, drew a foul on a loose ball and buried a pair of free throws to help preserve Golden State’s win.

“It sure felt good to knock down a 3,” Schroder said with a smile. “It’s been a tough couple of games, but I’m glad we won the game.”

A key factor was a second straight strong effort from Kuminga, who has scored 34 points in back-to-back games. The seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft has been a major topic of conversation since the preseason, where he didn’t get an extension until he was recently removed from the starting lineup by coach Steve Kerr.

But Kuminga looked to be a part of this one, with his scoring as well as his defense on Durant down the stretch giving the Warriors a boost.

“It just feels like he’s turning a corner and he played so hard last night and again tonight,” Kerr said. “That’s exactly what we’re looking for and it’s fun to watch him deliver.”

“He’s one of the most talented guys on the team, by far,” Green said, “and it’s good to see him play the way he’s playing. We just need him to stay that aggressive. When he’s on the pitch, is we want to present him and it’s up to him to do the rest and he does.

“He is more than capable and he will continue to get better and he will continue to do more.”

Golden State will try to build momentum on a six-game homestand, though it features games against the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers, who have won nine of their last 12. It will also include games against playoff contenders in the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat.

But momentum has to start somewhere. And after a string of close losses in recent weeks, the Warriors were happy to finally have one go their way on Saturday.

“We’ve lost a lot of these,” Kerr said. “We have to regain our confidence, for sure. So I think that will help.”