(Basketball news) The Golden State Warriors got home advantage and utilised it fully as they beat the Sacramento Kings 114-97 in game 3. For the Warriors, Stephen Curry scored 36 points, Kevon Looney matched his career high with 20 rebounds to go with nine assists as Andrew Wiggins added 20 points and seven rebounds while Jordan Poole who was playing with a tender left ankle, started in Draymond Green’s place and had 16 points and five rebounds.
For the Kings, De’Aaron Fox was 5 for 14 in the first half for 12 points but finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists while Sabonis had 16 rebounds to go with 15 points while Harrison Barnes added 17 points. The Kings still lead the series 2-1 but they face a spirited Golden State Warriors team in game 4 on Sunday.
“We’re a team with a lot of pride, we know how to respond when our back’s against the wall, we always usually show up,” Looney said. “I think Draymond knew that. Without him playing he knew how we were going to respond. He knew he could count on us to hold down the fort while he’s out. We’re excited to get him back next game.”
“This is Loon, this is who he is, we’ve seen it in the playoffs for years now,” Kerr said.
“Sometimes as a rebounder you can get in a zone just how Steph and the 3-point shooters get in a zone,” Looney said.
“I like the momentum that we created tonight, we just got to take advantage of it,” Curry said, crediting his team for “coming with the right energy to kind of prove that we can create some life for ourselves. Pretty bluntly, if we lose this game it’s pretty much over.”
The Phoenix Suns have bounced back in emphatic fashion as they went onto beat the Los Angeles Clippers at home 129-124. For the Clippers, Booker scored 45 points as Durant added 28 points Craig scored 15 points while hitting four 3-pointers as he is 10 of 16 from long-range in the series. For the Clippers, Norman Powell led the scoring with a career playoff-high 42 points on 15-of-23 shooting while Russell Westbrook added 30 points and 11 assists.
Leonard sat out because of a sprained right knee, the same injury that has sidelined fellow star Paul George since March 21. Leonard was hurt in Game 1, and played through it in Game 2, but afterward his condition didn’t improve. The Suns take the series lead now with game 4 being played at the Crypto Arena in a few days.
“He set the tone, got to the rim, making plays for others, just controlling the whole game,” Durant said of Booker. “We’re going to need him to do that going forward.”
“Those are those trick games, where you think somebody is missing one of their top players and you let off the gas a little bit,” Booker said. “They played their (rear ends) off tonight. The whole team was prepared for that so we didn’t take a step back.”
“If it was up to me, I wouldn’t have been out those 12 minutes. My body feels good,” Booker said. “I dedicate my whole entire life to this sport and this game. When you have it going like that on the big stage, there’s nothing else you can ask for.”
Also read: NBA: Lakers lose game 2 against the Grizzlies while Bucks tie the series against the Heats
