The leaders’ tour of the East has started with a stumbling block. The Golden State Warriors suffered their second loss of the season in Charlotte when they fell to the Hornets 106-102, a result that ends their seven-game winning streak but does not lose them the top spot in the standings. Those from Borrego, on the other hand, reach the three victories in a row, which allows them to place themselves with a positive record (8-7) and climb to the eighth place in the East.
It was a triumphant victory for North Carolina, who even managing to stall Golden State and generate a less bright day than usual, had to suffer practically until the last second to breathe calmly. After a dunk from Draymond Green, the game was tied at 102 with 44 seconds left, an equality that Miles Bridges managed to break quickly with a hook near the rim that returned the advantage to the locals, at which point the real madness began.
On the Warriors’ next possession, Curry managed to assist Kevon Looney under the rim, but Plumlee could have missed him before he comfortably scored and forced him to travel to the personnel line. This turned out to be an excellent decision, as the center missed both free throws that would have tied the game and left the Hornets with a significant advantage given the short time remaining. Far from seeking the foul quickly, however, Golden State tried to cause a loss that would give them another possession, and although it failed, it did force a jump between two between Green and Terry Rozier.
Despite the fact that the power forward, almost 15 centimeters taller, started with an advantage, it was the point guard who, measuring the times better, won the jump and therefore the possession, keeping the ball in Charlotte’s hands and forcing the visitors, now yes, to be necessary. It was Rozier himself who received it and scored the two free throws that made the final 106-102, confirming a suffered for a very important victory.
Borrego’s men were led by the trio formed by Bridges, author of 22 points, LaMelo Ball, who finished with 21, 7 rebounds and 5 assists; and Rozier himself, who scored his 20 goals in the second half. However, three other men joined them in double digits, as Cody Martin managed to reach 12 points, to which he added 8 rebounds, and both Gordon Hayward and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 10 each.
In the Warriors, the leader in the scoring facet was Andrew Wiggins with 28 points, while Stephen Curry, who had a very bad night, added 24 with a 31.8% accuracy, although he also managed to distribute 10 assists. The point guard was quite critical of his performance after the match, especially with his decision-making in the final stretch.
“I think I was rushing to look for decisive baskets when I was not having the day,” he admitted. “This is a night to learn a lot from, and it’s good that it happened early in the season.”
(Cover photo: Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
