SAN FRANCISCO — Even on the evening when Stephen Curry acquired his fourth championship ring — a wonderful 16-carat masterpiece — the Warriors’ star continues to be not happy.
Curry is hungry so as to add to his assortment.
“That’s why we play, that’s why we’re aggressive, that’s why we work as exhausting as we do,” Curry mentioned Tuesday evening after main the Warriors to their first win of the season. “No one is simply sitting at that ring and looking at it like, ‘Oh, it’s over.’ I don’t assume anyone’s constructed like that.”
The Warriors started their title protection Tuesday with a 123-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
After main the countdown to unveil an enormous banner honoring Golden State’s 2022 championship earlier than the sport, Curry, beginning his 14th NBA season, poured in a team-high 33 factors, grabbed six rebounds and handed out seven assists.
Andrew Wiggins added 20 factors and Klay Thompson, taking part in in his first season opener in three years, had 18 because the Warriors proceed to work off the remaining rust following a spectacle-filled preseason that began with a visit to Japan and included a leaked video that confirmed Draymond Inexperienced punching Jordan Poole in follow earlier this month.
The Warriors wish to put that latter occasion behind them, although Inexperienced rehashed the incident in a TNT particular launched earlier than tip-off of the season opener. The 2 have pledged to maintain it skilled on the courtroom.
The Warriors held an eight-point lead on the half earlier than placing the sport away with a trademark third-quarter scoring flurry. Golden State outscored L.A. 32-19 within the third quarter and held on within the fourth for the win.
It was a sluggish and sloppy first recreation for the Warriors, who dedicated 18 turnovers, however coach Steve Kerr took pleasure ultimately outcome.
“I’m thrilled with the win,” mentioned Kerr, who chalked up among the errors as a result of early-season nerves.
Poole added 12 factors and had seven assists off the bench.
“I'm simply completely happy to be on the market and taking part in, to be trustworthy,” Poole mentioned of his position. “Wherever I'm wanted, whether or not it’s with the primary unit, second unit… or closing video games, so long as I'm on the market impacting video games, that’s all that basically issues.”
Depth can be important for the Warriors, particularly early on. Kerr used an 11-man rotation Tuesday after indicating he’d must depend on extra reserves within the first few weeks because the starters, save for Curry, work their method again to their regular workload.
Thompson sat out all however one preseason recreation because the coaching workers steadily ramped him up for the season as a result of his damage historical past, and Inexperienced missed near per week of follow after the punch. Thompson performed beneath 20 minutes and Inexperienced was in for about 25.
Their restricted minutes “threw a wrench” within the rotation, Kerr mentioned, although the Warriors’ retooled bench provides them loads of choices to show to in the intervening time.
“We haven’t had a lot rhythm” with the lineups, Kerr mentioned. “We’re not the place we should be however we took care of enterprise. It was an important win in entrance of our followers on ring evening.”
One recreation down, 81 to go.
“After tonight, the journey actually begins when it comes to figuring out you’re going to get everyone’s greatest shot and you bought some actually gifted groups which might be going to be gunning for you so we acquired to be prepared for all of it,” Curry mentioned.
The Warriors (1-0) return to motion Friday after they host the Denver Nuggets, whom Golden State eradicated from the primary spherical of the playoffs in April. Tip-off at Chase Heart is scheduled for 7 p.m.