Saddiq Bey sinks Golden State Warriors and ends five-game winning streak

For the second consecutive game, the Golden State Warriors have been involved in a game-winning bucket at the final buzzer. But after Kevon Looney separated the scores against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the reigning champions were on the other side of the equation as Saddiq Bey’s wing triple powered the Detroit Pistons to a 122-119 win.

It appeared like the Warriors were set for another trip to overtime when Klay Thompson drilled his own wing three to tie the game with one second remaining, but after the timeout, Bey’s triple sunk Warrior hearts and with it their five-game winning streak.

The Golden State Warriors fell agonisingly short of another come-from-behind win, losing their first game at Chase Center since December 5.

The aftereffects of Monday’s double overtime win looked evident at times, with the Warriors looking sluggish defensively against the league’s 25th ranked offense. After a back-and-forth beginning, the Pistons opened up a 16-9 lead and were up 34-26 at the end of the first. Coming off a 54-point display against the Hawks, Klay Thompson started just 2-for-8 as part of struggling Warriors offense.

Detroit were up to 45 points by four minutes into the second-quarter, shooting 55% from the field and making six of their first ten attempts from three. The Golden State defense amped up slightly to close the first-half, keeping the Piston lead to four after 24 minutes.

The Pistons threatened to make a decisive run in the third when they got out to a nine-point lead, but the Warriors cut it to three heading into the final 12 minutes. Golden State went on a 7-0 run to take a one-point lead with 7:30 to play, yet Detroit again responded as the experienced Bojan Bogdanovic continued to prove a thorn in the Warriors plans on his way to 29 points.

Nothing displayed the Warriors’ slight lack of energy and focus like a pivotal play with less than two minutes remaining. With Detroit up two, Draymond Green did his job by boxing out Pistons big man Isiah Stewart on a missed jumpshot, only for no Warrior teammate to come back for the loose rebound. Stewart ended up getting to the ball, before Bey hit the first of his two big threes to extend the Piston lead to five.

The play also led to a scuffle between Green and Stewart, with both players pulling on the others jersey. Green tried to de-escalate the situation knowing he’d picked up a technical foul in the first-half, but his efforts went in vain as double technicals were awarded which sent him from the game.

But even after that, and following his early game shooting struggles, Thompson appeared determined to once again lead the Warriors to a sixth-straight win. He followed two free-throws with a layup to cut the lead to one, and Golden State had the chance to go in front in the final ten seconds only for Jordan Poole to produce another crucial turnover.

After a pair of Killian Hayes free-throws, the Warriors needed a three-point prayer akin to Donte DiVincenzo’s on Monday. Thompson provided in what were the final of his 17 points for the fourth-quarter, but after the stadium lit up with excitement and expectation for a further five minutes of action, Bey delivered the dagger in brutal fashion.

Thompson had another 30 points while Anthony Lamb and Ty Jerome combined for 35 off the bench. Poole had 24 points, five rebounds and six assists, but will be regretting more ill-advised turnovers and errant shot-selection.

The Warriors have now lost both their matchups with the 11-30 Pistons this season, a fact that they may come to rue at the conclusion of the regular season. They now have a couple of days off before hosting the Orlando Magic on Saturday.