This season, the Warriors have given in to their most nagging demons far too often. They know by now that the only way they stand a chance of winning their regular-season objective is if they defeat them.
Thursday night, late in the third quarter, the demons started to stir. The sellout crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center felt a wave of post-traumatic dread when the Lakers cut a 17-point deficit to nine points in less than three minutes.
They anticipated the worst after witnessing the Warriors build leads only to falter in the closing stages—it had happened at Chase eight days prior.
Not at this moment. On the beast, the Warriors forcefully shut the door. In addition to tying the season series at one point with two games remaining in Los Angeles, they played loudly and hard enough to win 128-110 and move within half a game of Los Angeles in the Western Conference standings.
Coach Steve Kerr announced this week that Golden State wants to finish in the top six of the Western Conference, provided all the pieces are in place on the roster. to stay out of the play-in competition. They currently sit in tenth position, mostly due to the numerous victories they have lost due to terrible finishes.
“He had a great speech about all of that yesterday,” Stephen Curry said of Kerr. “The way I approach it, six seed is the goal because that guarantees you a spot in a series. And that’s what you want.
“But the way our season’s gone, taking a big goal and breaking it down, this is probably the ultimate test of ‘stay right where you are, win every game that’s in front of you, build up that joy and that energy.’ Momentum.”
Curry and his teammates are trying to avoid getting ahead of themselves because they know what happens when they do, especially after blowing double-digit leads. It only takes a few defensive blunders, a disregard for basics, and a loss of the winning offensive mentality to see a lead evaporate and a game turn into a “clutch” in the last five minutes.
The Warriors led by fifteen points with five minutes to go on this particular night, but in six games this season, that margin has not been sufficient to secure victory. Kerr used up every last minute of the bench.
All because the Warriors retaliated vehemently when the Lakers threatened. They led by eleven points (67–56) at the half, extended their lead to 17 (86–69) with 4:47 remaining in the third quarter, and saw LA cut their lead to nine (89–80) with 2:02 remaining before hitting the gas.
With only two free throws made by the Lakers during Golden State’s 9-2 run to end the quarter, the team showed that it was serious about defense.
After three quarters, Andrew Wiggins took it upon himself to put any notion of a LA comeback out of his mind, leading 98–82. He scored Golden State’s first nine points of the fourth quarter, and the Lakers were shut out before they could get any closer than 13.
It was reassuring to see Wiggins take charge and put together the kind of finish that the Warriors all too frequently failed to provide.
“He just looks more comfortable,” Kerr said. “He’s attacking the rim more. And the way we’re playing and the lineup that he starts the game with gives him more space to attack. He’s looked really good for a while.
“The way our team has evolved, and the lineups that we’re playing, kind of feeds into everything that he does well. He’s playing at a high level, playing unselfishly, making the simple play. I love how Wiggs is playing right now.”
Five Warriors scored in double digits, including Wiggins, who finished with 20 points (8 of 14 from the field). Curry attempted to set the tone early, scoring 16 of his game-high 32 points in the opening 10 minutes of the first.
For the first time since November 11, the victory moved the Warriors (28-26) two games over.500. It didn’t matter that they defeated a Lakers club without superstar LeBron James and important rotation players Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood, considering where they are and where they want to go.
The fact that the Warriors completed it is what counts. They have won nine of their previous 11 games, displayed late-game grit seldom seen this season, and are giving themselves hope that they can advance past the play-in round.
“This is a good window that we’ve had,” Curry said. “But literally every game matters for us to (win). I think I’m just trying to enjoy what’s happening each game, what it takes to win that particular game. It’s a lofty goal but we know we can get there.”