Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are in a rare and uncomfortable position, down 0-2 in the playoff series. The last time they faced such a deficit was in 2007 against the Utah Jazz, before Curry joined the team. Curry is facing a different kind of personal challenge: he missed two-three crucial shots in the dying minutes against the Sacramento Kings, which could have given his team a chance to win.
Curry, the two-time NBA MVP and the leader of the Warriors, had a tough night shooting-wise. He made only 9 of his 21 field goal attempts, including 3 of 13 from three-point range. His 28 points were still the most for the Warriors, but not enough to overcome the Kings’ 114-106 victory.
The Warriors and the Kings were around the same score more or less with just five minutes left in the game. Stephen Curry had a chance to give the Warriors the lead with a long-range shot, but missed. On the next possession, he had another opportunity to tie the game, but missed again. The Kings responded with a good run, which ultimately sealed the game and put the Warriors in a deeper hole.
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Can Stephen Curry help Warriors redeem themseves in Game 2?
Curry’s missed shots were not the only reason why the Warriors lost, of course. The Kings had a solid performance from their starting lineup, led by De’Aaron Fox (24 points) and Domantas Sabonis (24 points). The Warriors had too many turnovers (22) and too few made threes (13) to keep up with the Kings, who had a similar shooting night but took better care of the ball.
Curry’s shooting touch is crucial for the Warriors. Curry averaged 32 points per game in the regular season and made a record 5.3 threes per game. He is also a playoffs veteran with a career average of 25.4 points per game. The Warriors need him to play at his best if they want to avoid a sweep or even a five-game series.
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Curry’s next chance to redeem himself will be in Game 2 at Chase Center. Steph Curry has been particularly effective at home, averaging 29.3 points per game on 50% shooting, including 45.3% from three-point range. He will need to find his rhythm early and often, and make the Kings pay for any defensive lapses.
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The Warriors have a history of overcoming adversity, including coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. However, this time they are facing a younger, hungry and talented Kings team that is playing with confidence and momentum. Curry and the Warriors will need to bring their best game to avoid a premature exit from the playoffs.
