Indianapolis — about 30 minutes later Warriors dropped to 2-13 on the street, Stephen Curry He sat in an Indianapolis locker in an immobile position with his left arm dangling by his side. injured shoulderThe Warriors’ already precarious situation was hit with even greater turbulence.
Curry scored 38 points on 19 shots late in the third quarter. Pacers, expended so much energy that he delayed returning to the dressing room at half-time to catch his breath. He scored his 27 points, but his team was 20 down him.
Stephen Curry’s locker room walk late at halftime after scoring 27 but still trails Pacers by 20 pic.twitter.com/bjbg3rqQbj
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 15, 2022
Curry was part of a rapid comeback in the third quarter.Warriors started Jonathan Kuminga of Kevon LooneyCurry, who cut the Pacers’ lead from 20 to 5 within six minutes, had 11 in the quarter and 38 in the game. Jalen Smith Drive, grab every ball, and inadvertently send this Warriors season on another sketchy detour.
This is a play that Steph Curry came up with grabbing his left shoulder. He’s still in the locker room as the fourth quarter begins. pic.twitter.com/NDKEbHfuho
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 15, 2022
Curry felt an immediate pain in his left shoulder. After a brief conversation with Drew Yoder, the team’s director of medical services, and confirming any concerns about the discomfort, Curry walked into the locker room with their primary medical decision maker, Rick Celebrini. rice field.
This is the moment.
Stephen Curry went to the locker room during a timeout to support his left arm. pic.twitter.com/zZtpjFe8Kt
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 15, 2022
In that clip, Curry can be seen holding his left arm still. It still hung like that, before and after the icing, while Curry hung around the locker room after the game, and he’s scheduled to have his MRI on Thursday before traveling to Philadelphia with the team. It’s a schedule. The test gives us a more solid idea of what the timeline is likely to be, but the post-match feeling from those around the team is that the injury will probably extend it to the rest of the road trip, some sort of It meant that he would be forced to miss the multi-game.
Steve Kerr said, “It might get a little tougher if Steph is out for a while. I mean, if he’s out, it’s definitely going to be harder. But we just have to be patient. No, just keep playing and keep fighting.”
It wasn’t a disheartening post-match locker room. In addition to the additional discomfort and treatment, Curry felt normal. It may turn out to be a speed bump. But the 14-15 Warriors were already facing daunting challenges before their best players fell. In the short term, it got pretty tricky.
So what’s next?
This will be an important stretch for Jordan Poole.
When Curry collapsed with a sprained leg in March, jordan pool It’s gone to a whole different level.He NBA The maid threes in March and April averaged 24.7 points with 47.3% overall and 41.9% from deep.
They don’t necessarily need him to reach that top, but they do need Poole to be more efficient and protect the ball than he has been recently. Recorded turnovers. He went 6 of 17 with four turnovers to start his trip in Milwaukee. He has succeeded his 3 in his last 23 attempts only in his 5.
“The biggest thing we’re trying to do with Jordan is slow down,” Kerr said. “He’s just rushing. I think there is.
Can we see more of Moses Moody?
despite the absence of Andrew Wiggins When Klay Thompsonthe Warriors didn’t go Moses Moody The first 18 minutes with the Pacers.Kerr had a two-way player Ty Jerome I surpassed Moody in the first rotation.
But the Warriors struggled against Jerome, Anthony Lam When Jamaican green on the court together. Jerome was minus 17 in his first nine minutes. That made Kerr throw Moody out. He hit corner 3 and sneaked a layup in the first few minutes on the court. With him 20 down at halftime, Kerr rearranged the third quarter rotation and Moody became the first sub off the bench.
Moody finished with 13 points on 5/6 shooting, 3 assists and a few other useful plays. Both Moody and Kuminga, who entered the second half, played a key role in keeping the game competitive and nearly stole a late game win.green and Donte Divincenzo also played a big role.
“I’m really happy with the way he’s played. “He’s had his chances and he’s made the most of them. , and a lot of new people coming in. So we’re trying to find the right mix, but Moses did a great job and I think he’ll be in for the next game.”
Steve Kerr in tonight’s rotation, with Jonathan Cuminga and Moses Moody playing in the second half pic.twitter.com/o0miyTV2Kp
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 15, 2022
Thompson will return on Friday against the Sixers. Wiggins was re-evaluated Thursday, pending his return. So while Moody might be hard to spot on the wing in bulk, it’s hard to imagine him not taking a higher position in the pecking order than Jerome.
So what is the non-curry rotation?
If Wiggins could come back anytime soon, Poole, Thompson, Wiggins, draymond green, Rooney starting pitcher. Kuminga continues to focus on a larger piece of the rotation pie, and Kerr indicated Wednesday that Kuminga is an option should starters decide they need a faster style and a different look.
After Kuminga, DiVincenzo has emerged as the most reliable option off the bench. I made two 3 shots. DiVincenzo was plus 19 in his 38 minutes and minus 24 in his 10 minutes on the bench.
“My focus is not on the edge of the offense,” he said. “It comes to me. But when I put pressure on the rim, good things happen. When you’re playing basketball the right way, and in my opinion it’s the right way, and you’re doing all the moves like driving, kicking, swinging, that’s what makes a player hit a good shot. It’s time.
He has also become one of the silent leaders in the locker room.
“I needed more energy,” DiVincenzo said. “When things don’t go your way, when Cole doesn’t go your way, there’s a standard Golden State Warriors play. That’s the biggest. We have to have that energy.”
What does your schedule look like?
The 2-13 Warriors end their longest trip of the season in four games. raptors, Knicks, NetThe last two of these will be back-to-back next Tuesday and Wednesday. They then get an extended break before starting his eight-game homestand on Christmas. Grizzlies.
(Photo: Stephen Curry holding his shoulder in the second half against the Pacers on Wednesday night: Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today)
