Kendra AndrewsESPN
SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors were shy about how much they watched the Western Conference standings. Some have admitted that they are being watched. Others said it was an afterthought. But going into Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz, there was not a single person in the Golden State locker room who did not know the consequences of the game. A win would allow the Warriors to sit in third place with a one-match advantage over the Dallas Mavericks. It would also give them a tiebreak against the Jazz, ensuring they would have a place in the top five in the West if they had the same record at the end of the regular season. “Oh yes, [we were] “We know each other well,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “We did not discuss it much as a team, but the kids know. … I told the coaching staff and Steph [Curry] he told some children. “
The Warriors beat the Jazz 111-107, taking a place in the playoffs and building themselves up nicely to gain a potential home advantage in the first round of the postseason. It was just their second win in the last nine games. After losing to the Phoenix Suns two nights ago, the Warriors felt they finally had something positive to build on. Against the Suns, their defense – which was once ranked No. 1 in the league – reappeared and in attack they seemed connected and cohesive. The point was that they could not close. Against the Jazz, that was how they closed. After the Warriors reduced the lead of the Jazz to single-digit percentages in the last minutes of the third quarter, Utah made a quick jump to the beginning of the fourth to rise to 16. With 6:58 left, Clay Thompson made a three-pointer and the Jazz shouted time out. That’s when the game changed, sparked by a speech by Draymond Green. “It just brought a lot of energy. It motivates the kids and it gathers us, especially in a moment of stress like this,” said Jordan Poole. “What he says is addressed to the whole team. We were able to drive that momentum.” Coming out of the timeout, Andrew Wiggins made a 28-foot pull jump. Thirty seconds later, Thompson scored a 3. In the next possession, he hit another. The Warriors were reduced from 16 to just four in 80 seconds and made it 18-0 to take their first lead in the game. “What a performance,” Kerr said. “I was amazed at the ability of Clay and Jordan. The emotion and passion from Draymond and the methodical defense and energy from Andrew and Otto [Porter Jr.] An incredible appearance from our children “. Poole finished with 31 points, his 16th consecutive game with at least 20 points, while Thompson led the Warriors with 36. In the case of Thompson, it was a night of innovation after playing the last few games. The Warriors tell him about his recent troubles, pushing his shot, trying very hard to find rhythm. “We’ve seen it a million times: If Clay just sees the ball go through the hoop a few times, he can do bad things,” Kerr said. “I did not think this was a dramatic improvement in the choice of shots, but I think the fact that that midfield shot was there… that allowed him to get in rhythm and then start doing the impossible.” Thompson added: “I know I can turn a switch just like that. I knew this year would have its ups and downs, and I just told myself yesterday that it’s a game and I’ll move on. I told Kenny Atkinson I felt “I’m going to have a great night tonight, and it happened. I’m glad it happened.” The Warriors’ offensive show in the fourth quarter was only helped by the fact that Utah continued to defend against a cover drop, with Rudy Gobert remaining in the color no matter what, giving the Warriors an open look. But unlike other games, in which the Warriors lost those open shots, this time they hit them. Instead of being incomplete, they executed. Poole said that at this point in the season, every game is important. But there was no doubt that everyone in the Warriors locker room knew that this had an added advantage and they were not going to let it get away. This is what Green said to the team during the timeout in the middle of the quarter, and what led the Warriors to their wave at the end of the game. “It was a crucial part of the game,” Poole said. “That was the moment we needed to win the game.”
