The Warriors and Kings have already played three nail-biting games this season and today was no different, with Golden State hanging on to claim a thrilling 125-123 win at home.
Steph Curry led the Warriors offence, draining 10 three-pointers on just 16 attempts on his way to 36 points, adding seven assists and six rebounds, while Kevin Durant added 28 points, nine rebounds and SEVEN blocks. DeMarcus Cousins finished with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double against his former team.
Curry scored 11 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter as the Warriors looked to put the game to bed, leading 123-117 with 25.5 seconds remaining, before Buddy Hield returned serve, connecting on back-to-back triples to cut the lead to just 125-123.
Andre Iguodala missed a pair of free throws, giving the Kings a chance to tie or go for the win, however Hield turned down an open look from way downtown, before airballing a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer.
Buddy Hield hesitates the last shot and misses pic.twitter.com/YUavVaqml3
— The Render (@TheRenderNBA) February 22, 2019
The Kings have lost all four meetings with the Warriors this season by a combined margin of just 12 points, stunning the defending champs with their high intensity and quick shot-making, something Warriors coach Steve Kerr says could be a problem in the post-season.
"I can tell you the common issues that keep us from getting separation and that's turnovers and offensive boards," Kerr told reporters post-game. "Down the stretch tonight, I'll have to look at the tape but it felt like they got every offensive board. When the game's on the line, you gotta come up with the ball.
Steve Kerr on Buddy Hield’s bet that the Kings would make the playoffs and why these four games vs Kings have been so close pic.twitter.com/uy2ZVAukc5
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 22, 2019
"They do a good job, they're athletic and energetic so they got a lot of extra possessions tonight, probably seven, eight more posessions," Kerr added. "I haven't counted it up, but its tough to beat a team when you have to do that, so we had to get some big contributions late from Steph and KD, some big baskets from Klay just to squeak it out, but if we happen to play them in the playoffs, we know we have to clean that stuff up."
For the Kings, Marvin Bagley III led the way with 28 points and 14 rebounds, while Hield finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. De'Aaron Fox added 18 points and eight assists.
