Warriors’ star makes on and off-court statement to give slight reminder to NBA

While the primary objective of Thursday’s Game 3 was to prevent falling into a disastrous 3-0 hole, it also provided the Golden State Warriors with an opportunity to offer a reminder that their stature isn’t to be given up easily.

Despite the absence of former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green, and their best perimeter defender in Gary Payton II, Golden State put the clamps on the league-best offense to keep them under 100 points and record a comfortable 17-point win.

The Golden State Warriors, led by superstar Stephen Curry, made a statement on an off the floor on Thursday to give a slight reminder to their naysayers.

Although the defending champions got the job done on the defensive end by keeping the Kings to less than 40% from the field and 24% from three-point range, it was Stephen Curry who unsurprisingly proved the engine offensively.

It was a statement game from the two-time MVP after a pair of solid but not spectacular outings in Sacramento. 36 points, six threes and six rebounds ensured the Warriors defended their home floor with Green to re-enter the fray on Sunday in Game 4.

Curry may have delivered a powerful performance on the floor, but he spread an equally powerful message directly after. Interviewed on the broadcast, Curry exclaimed, “they say Draymond’s got a history, so do we. We know how to bounceback.”

With Green controversially suspended, Payton out sick, and down 2-0 for the first time in Curry’s career, even the believers thought that this might be it for a core that’s won four championships in eight seasons. It may still be though Curry’s right, this is a team that has history and experience that will allow them to compete with vigour until they meet the end point wherever that may be.

Even before Thursday, there was a sense of confidence and faith that a franchise deserves to hold when they’ve reached the ultimate success on multiple occasions. They got to work on Thursday with a minimum of fuss, and Curry led from the front as is so often the case.

Golden State will look to tie up the series on Sunday before heading back to Sacramento for Game 5. With 27-straight playoff series with at least one win on the road, the Warriors will fancy themselves so long as they maintain business at Chase Center.