SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors welcomed much-needed reinforcements Saturday night time towards the Orlando Magic, with Andrew Wiggins and Andre Iguodala lastly being added again into the fold after prolonged absences.
However as these two gamers got here again, one other was sidelined.
Klay Thompson grew to become a last-minute scratch, and the Warriors couldn’t substitute his offensive firepower earlier than finally struggling a 115-101 loss to the Magic in what was an total powerful night time for the reigning champs.
All indicators pointed to Thompson taking part in up till tip-off. Coach Steve Kerr had named him a starter throughout his pre-game availability and Thompson went by way of his warm-up as regular. He was even introduced as a starter by the PA announcer.
However the staff plucked him from the lineup moments earlier than tip-off for “precautionary causes” after soreness in his left knee flared up earlier than the sport, Kerr stated.
Donte DiVincenzo was tapped as Thompson’s substitute, marking his tenth consecutive begin. However even he was caught off guard by Thompson’s sudden absence.
“I heard his title launched identical to you guys and that’s what I assumed was happening. Then I didn’t see him on the bench, they usually got here as much as me proper afterwards and instructed me, ‘Hey, you’re beginning,’” stated DiVincenzo, who had 15 factors from 5 made 3s to go along with his eight rebounds and three assists. “Clearly it’s a little bit wrench thrown in your routine however… I’m all the time able to play.”
The Warriors, who had been with out Wiggins and Stephen Curry for the final 3 1/2 weeks, had been closely reliant on Thompson, who’s stepped as much as the plate together with just a few others on the staff. Thompson is averaging a team-high 33.6 factors and making 40% of his 3s throughout this homestand, whereas logging an above-average 39 minutes per sport.
Ache in his surgically-repaired knee is one thing that has landed Thompson on the staff’s harm report thrice final month however hasn’t stored him out of a sport till Saturday. Kerr doesn’t consider the sporadic soreness is a long-term concern.
“You’re speaking a couple of man who’s had two main accidents in the previous couple of years so stuff like this occurs,” Kerr stated. “You get a little bit bit older and also you’ve suffered some accidents, you’re gonna be extra vulnerable to aches and pains and so one thing we simply should cope with.”
Two-way ahead Anthony Lamb scored a career- and team-high 26 factors, Jordan Poole added 21 and Kevon Looney recorded his fifth straight 10-plus rebound sport however it wasn’t sufficient because the undermanned Warriors had been booted again all the way down to .500 report.
Kerr’s evaluation of the loss?
“They took it to us all night time. They had been the extra aggressive staff,” he stated. “Felt like they had been coming downhill at us, we simply didn’t have a lot of a response. We simply couldn’t get the group into it, couldn’t generate a lot momentum.”
Quite a bit went unsuitable for the Warriors, who’ve now been dealt back-to-back house losses for the primary time this season. The Magic made it troublesome for them to get to the rim, which brought on Golden State, already a high-volume 3-point capturing staff, to take much more pictures from deep. The Warriors transformed on 31% of their 58 makes an attempt from 3-point land. In the meantime, the Magic doubled the Warriors’ factors within the paint, outscoring the defending champs 52-26.
The Warriors led by one after the primary quarter however trailed by three on the half. The Magic pulled away within the third and Golden State by no means obtained inside 9 factors within the fourth.
5 Magic gamers completed in double-figure scoring to assist Orlando win its first sport on Warriors’ floor since 2012. Rookie Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner led the best way, scoring 25 and 24 factors, respectively.
Wiggins confirmed some indicators of rust in his first sport in a month after a groin harm and non-COVID sickness sidelined him for 15 straight video games. He went 4-for-12 from the sphere and 2-for-7 from deep and completed with 12 factors, three rebounds and two assists in his 19 restricted minutes.
In the meantime, Iguodala made his season debut, receiving a loud, partial standing ovation when he checked in for the primary time on the 7:28 mark of the opening quarter. He had two rebounds, an help and two turnovers whereas additionally being restricted to only 12 minutes. Kerr lower the 38-year-old veteran some slack after he hadn’t performed a sport in six months.
“Andre hasn’t performed for the reason that Finals final 12 months, so it’s been a very long time,” Kerr stated. He additionally famous that with Iguodala and Wiggins, “it’ll take a while to get some rhythm.”
The Warriors might be inching nearer to a clear invoice of well being within the subsequent week or so. Jonathan Kuminga has ditched the boot on his sprained proper foot, and Curry got here out of his first dwell apply Friday since injuring his shoulder with none situation.
The Warriors will look to rebound from back-to-back losses on Tuesday once they host the Phoenix Suns to cap off their longest homestand of the season.