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Warriors’ perfect start being put to the test in tough road stretch
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Golden State extended its NBA record start to 19-0 with a narrow win over the Utah Jazz on Monday but that inevitable first defeat of the season may come sooner rather than later as the Warriors negotiate a tough road stretch and injuries start to bite.
Playing without forward Harrison Barnes, who will miss at least three games with a sprained left ankle, the Warriors needed a late surge to get past the Jazz 106-103 in Salt Lake City, the opener of a seven-game trip away from Oracle Arena in Oakland, including assignments in Charlotte, Toronto and Indiana.
The Warriors keenly felt the absence of Barnes, who was averaging 13.4 points per game, and after trailing late into the final quarter needed the heroics of Stephen Curry to stay perfect.
Warriors forward Draymond Green told reporters the defending champions had to be at their best at all times as the opposition were going all out to topple them.
“When we show up (at other arenas) if we don’t bring our ‘A game’ each and every night we can be beaten,” he said. “Because everyone else is bringing their ‘A game’.”
Steering clear of major injuries helped Golden State to the title last season in its 67-win campaign, but already this year it is without head coach Steve Kerr (back surgery) and will now miss Barnes for at least a short stretch.
Curry scored 26 points as the Warriors survived a furious late onslaught from the Jazz.
Reigning NBA MVP Curry came to the Warriors rescue once again, producing a superb three-pointer with seconds left to put Golden State ahead 104-101 just moments after Utah had leveled.
It was yet another moment of inspiration from Curry, a talismanic figure for the reigning NBA champions who have now edged one game closer to the Los Angeles Lakers’ all-time winning streak record of 33 games.
Curry contributed six rebounds and five assists as the Warriors held their nerve in the face of a spirited Utah performance at the Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Green and Klay Thompson were the other standouts for the Warriors, contributing 20 points each. Green also had nine rebounds and seven assists.
The defeat saw Utah’s season record fall to 8-8.
Utah’s points came through Gordon Hayward (24) and power forward Derrick Favors (23) while center Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association on Monday, it was: Celtics 105, Heat 95; Pistons 116, Rockets 105; Bulls 92, Spurs 89; Bucks 92, Nuggets 74; Hawks 106, Thunder 100; Kings 112, Mavericks 98; and Clippers 102, Trail Blazers 87.
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