Golden State Warriors in wait-and-see mode after Stephen Curry caught up in scrum in Recreation Three loss

BOSTON — There was so much for the Golden State Warriors to digest following their 116-100 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday evening in Recreation Three of the NBA Finals. However on the highest of their minds after falling behind 2-1 within the collection was the standing of their celebrity, Stephen Curry.

With 4:16 left within the recreation and the Warriors down by 12, Curry dove to the ground to attempt to safe a unfastened ball. He was met by Boston’s Al Horford, and because the two struggled to safe the possession, Horford rolled on high of Curry’s left leg.

Curry remained on the ground for a couple of minutes, writhing in ache.

“I noticed him getting dove on,” Warriors ahead Draymond Green mentioned. “So I picked up my foul pushing individuals off him as a result of he is screaming on the backside of the pile.”

Curry got here up with a noticeable limp.

“Clearly, in some ache, however I will be all proper,” Curry mentioned. “We’ll see the way it responds. Not a lot different to say. I do not really feel like I will miss a recreation. Benefit from these subsequent 48 hours to prepare.”

As Curry entered and exited the information convention room after the sport, he walked gingerly, attempting to keep away from placing any actual stress on his left foot.

Curry mentioned the harm felt near what he suffered towards the visiting Celtics in March, when he sprained his foot on an identical play involving Marcus Smart. That play resulted in Curry straining his left foot — the identical foot affected in Recreation 3 — and lacking the final month of the common season. Wednesday’s harm, Curry mentioned, felt much less extreme.

“[Horford is] an enormous physique, clearly,” Curry mentioned. “I have never seen the play, so I do not know if it might have been averted or not. I used to be in that state of affairs with Marcus again within the Bay, and also you simply need to get your foot out of there. That is all I used to be attempting to do at that time, figuring out the place I used to be in. Like I mentioned, for what I really feel like, it isn’t as unhealthy. So hopefully, it responds properly over the following two days.”

“We’ll know extra tomorrow,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned with a stern tone.

Dropping Curry, even for only one recreation, could be detrimental to the Warriors’ title hopes. Even a banged-up Curry would not bode properly for Golden State.

By means of the primary three video games, Curry has been the Warriors’ finest participant and the one supply of consistency. In Recreation 3, he scored 31 factors on 12-of-22 taking pictures, together with six 3-pointers. He lastly bought some assist from Splash Brother Klay Thompson, who completed with 25 factors, however that was in trade for a largely absent Inexperienced.

Inexperienced scored simply two factors and failed to offer any influence on protection. He did not give the extent of focus or depth he had supplied the Warriors beforehand on this collection. And he fouled out when he went to Curry’s assist within the late scrum.

“I used to be s—,” Inexperienced mentioned, his son by his aspect as he took questions from the media. Afterward, he referred to as himself “mushy.”

Inexperienced’s efficiency did not cease Celtics followers from raining down “F— you, Draymond” chants constantly all through the evening.

“We have performed in entrance of impolite individuals earlier than,” Thompson mentioned. “Dropping F-bombs with youngsters within the crowd. Actual elegant. Good job, Boston.”

Golden State guard Jordan Poole contributed 10 factors on 4-of-Eight taking pictures however continued to battle to discover a significant method to influence his group.

Boston made Curry work for each shot he took, smothering him on protection all evening. The Celtics held Curry to making an attempt simply two performs in transition after averaging 5 such performs per recreation within the first two video games.

Additionally they compelled Curry out of the paint, as he shot simply three subject aim makes an attempt from inside 9 ft of the basket. (He mixed for 12 such makes an attempt in Video games 1 and a pair of.)

“Their personnel and the way in which that they defend, they’re very bodily,” Curry mentioned. “They’ve a manner of, clearly with Marcus on the ball, he is fairly aggressive, and Robert [Williams III] behind the play, they often have lot of size and dimension on the wings.”

As a result of he could not drive to the rim and create contact, Curry tried only one free throw — a flagrant foul 1 penalty shot within the third quarter after it was deemed Horford did not give Curry sufficient touchdown room on his made 3-point shot.

“I do not know why there’s just one free throw,” Curry mentioned. “Felt like there is a couple possessions or performs that might have gone my manner.”

The final time Curry had only one free throw try in a playoff recreation was in 2018.

“It’s exhausting to grasp the stream of the sport based mostly on a few of the calls that went my manner the place I’ve 4 and also you’re having to defend a sure manner since you need to keep on the ground and never enable that to influence the sport,” Curry mentioned. “However you realize, you have nonetheless bought to discover a method to be efficient regardless of how the sport’s being referred to as, and it is a good lesson to study for the following recreation.”

The Warriors’ loss wasn’t due to the free throw disparity. (Boston shot 24 to Golden State’s 15.) But it surely did must with the extent of physicality the Celtics performed with.

Boston outrebounded Golden State 47-31, together with 15-6 on offensive boards. The Celtics additionally outscored the Warriors within the paint 52-26.

“That was actually the principle challenge — the point-of-attack protection,” Kerr mentioned. “They bought previous us. It wasn’t based mostly on any units they have been operating. It was extra simply they have been coming downhill at us, they usually bought previous us, and that harm us.”

The Warriors trailed by as many as 18 factors within the first half. However simply as they’ve each recreation this collection, they performed an incredible third quarter, even taking a lead shortly after a seven-point possession late within the interval. However they weren’t in a position to maintain it within the fourth, resulting in the Celtics closing out the sport.

The Warriors know they should discover a method to play extra constantly all through all 48 minutes. They know they should carry the pressure that they discovered within the Recreation 2 victory. They know they should get extra contributions down the rotation.

However all of them know that none of this may really matter if Curry will not be obtainable.

“We want him if we need to win this factor,” Thompson mentioned. “I do know Steph goes to do every little thing he can in his energy to play. I’m actually hoping he is OK as a result of he is our identification, and with out him, it will likely be very tough.”