In today’s Dub Hub:
- Steve Kerr reacts to Steph Curry’s 35-point night in Warriors’ 126-121 Play-In win vs. Clippers: “This is why Steph came back.”
- Kawhi Leonard compliments Draymond Green for his defensive performance against him.
- Sixers secure the 7th seed in the East after beating the Magic, 109-97.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr didn’t need many words to convey what Stephen Curry did on Wednesday night.
After the Warriors kept their season alive with a 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the Play-In Tournament, Kerr’s postgame message said everything about Curry’s performance, and why it mattered so much for the superstar point guard to play again this season.
For weeks, there was outside noise suggesting Golden State should shut Curry down as he worked his way back from a knee injury that sidelined him for 27 games to close the regular season. Instead, he delivered the exact kind of performance that made that idea look foolish, finishing with a game-high 35 points to lead the Warriors to a comeback win when the team needed him the most.
Draymond Green — who had an excellent night himself on the defensive end — echoed Kerr’s sentiment, pointing to Curry’s presence as the key difference in high-pressure moments like this.
That’s what superstars do in win-or-go-home games.
And with the season on the line, Curry reminded everyone exactly why the Warriors were willing to ride this out.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, April 16th:
Warriors News:
Warriors rally over Clippers in 4th to advance in play-in | ESPN
Kerr gave a postgame speech to the team in the locker room, stating that it was one of his favorite wins of this Warriors run that has lasted longer than a decade.
Kerr’s coaching future is uncertain. The 37 wins were the second-fewest in his 12-season tenure. The core is aging. Injuries caught up this year. But Kerr felt they’d turned back the clock for a night to remind the world what they were in their prime.
“There’s a reason we have four championships,” Kerr said. “With all the wins we’ve ever had here — a lot of them with a lot more at stake – this is right up there. Just because of where we are and our age and the decline of our performance this year and our injuries. It was just a beautiful display of competitive will.”
Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis provide big boost in comeback win over Clippers | The Athletic
“I had flashbacks to Game 1 in the ’22 Finals,” Curry said, referencing when Horford, then a member of the Boston Celtics, racked up 26 points and hit six 3-pointers in a win over Curry and the Warriors. “Because it was just like that, where all of a sudden — he was 0-for-3 at one point from 3, and then he hits the first one. It was just a sign of how confident he was shooting it. There was no hesitation, there was no doubt. There was just ‘I’m open. I’ll shoot it.’”
Kawhi Leonard compliments Draymond Green’s defense: “It was hard to even get shots up”
NBA News:
Tyrese Maxey scores 31 and Sixers beat Magic 109-97 to advance out of SoFi Play-In Tournament | NBA
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, V.J. Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers weathered the absence of Joel Embiid to beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 on Wednesday night and secure the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Sixers moved on to a first-round series that begins Sunday at Boston.
Desmond Bane and the Magic aren’t done yet. They will host Charlotte on Friday night in the SoFi Play-In Tournament finale, with the winner earning the No. 8 seed in the East and a first-round matchup with Detroit.
Hornets’ LaMelo Ball fined for tripping Heat’s Bam Adebayo during first round play-in game
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Warriors vs. Clippers player grades: Steph Curry and Draymond Green turn back the clock
Porziņģis looked like his All-Star self in this game. He had numerous highlight defensive plays, single-handedly ending multiple Clippers possessions that looked like easy buckets. He was a walking bucket, scoring from all over the court, largely within the system but also taking matters into his own hands when it was needed. And he had some passes that made your eyes pop wide open.
It was a complete — and completely excellent — performance. And it left no doubt as to whether or not the Warriors will make re-signing Porziņģis a priority this coming offseason.
Grade: A+
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