OAKLAND, California: Nah, that slow start didn’t last long for the defending NBA champions.
Draymond Green knew they’d be just fine.
“We know what we’re capable of,” he said, “we just needed to lock in and focus.”
And Golden State is getting better by the game — balanced, getting better on both ends, doing all the little things that were discussed all summer.
Kevin Durant returned from missing one game with a leg injury to finish with 29 points, leading the Warriors past the Philadelphia 76ers 135-114 on Saturday night for their sixth straight win.
Green did his usual thing: 10 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, five blocks and two steals. Stephen Curry took a knee to his right quad muscle — similar to what Durant dealt with — but added 22 points and nine assists to surpass the 4,000-assist mark for his career and Klay Thompson scored 23 as the Warriors pulled away in the second half.
“It’s been great to have so many guys contribute so many guys contribute in different ways,” Green said. “That’s what we’ve talked about early on was our depth and guys have stepped up.”
Durant sat out Wednesday’s win against the Timberwolves with a bruised left thigh but hardly showed any signs of an issue. Curry, sporting new twisties in his hair, briefly went to the locker room early in the second but returned.
JJ Redick scored 17 points to lead the Sixers, who hung around for a half.
“You realize that there is zero margin of error,” coach Brett Brown said. “There is so much firepower on that team.”
The Warriors have won by 17 or more points in each game of this winning streak, averaging 122.8 points.
Golden State built its first double-digit lead of the night at 86-76 on Nick Young’s 3-pointer with 4:14 left in the third, and rolled from there getting another quick 3 by Young, one from Curry and a Durant jumper.
The Warriors won their ninth straight against the Sixers and sixth in a row at Oracle Arena.
76ers two-way player James Michael McAdoo received his Warriors championship ring in a pregame ceremony. He was cheered when he checked in for the first time midway through the fourth.
Coach Steve Kerr texted with him leading up to the game.
“I’m thrilled that he was here, and I thought it was a great gesture by the Sixers to make sure he was here,” Kerr said. “I know he’ll get a huge ovation from the crowd tonight, he deserves it.”
Durant leads defending NBA champions Warriors after missing a game
Durant leads defending NBA champions Warriors after missing a game
Guardiola hails Man City’s ‘massive’ win over Newcastle
- Guardiola’s second-placed side closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points with their tense victory at the Etihad Stadium
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Pep Guardiola labelled Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday as a “massive” moment in the Premier League title race.
Guardiola’s second-placed side closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points with their tense victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Nico O’Reilly put City ahead in the first half and restored the lead before half-time after Lewis Hall had equalized.
City weren’t at their best in the second half, but they held on to pile pressure on spluttering Arsenal, who travel to Tottenham for the north London derby on Sunday.
Guardiola knew it was essential to make Arsenal sweat.
“Massive. Newcastle is an incredible team, awesome in physicality and speed they have up front. Physicality in the middle. Really tough but the team was unbelievable,” he said.
“It’s coming in best part of the season. Every single game will be similar to today.”
After finishing without a trophy last season, City are back in the hunt for the seventh English title of Guardiola’s reign.
They will have a game in hand on Arsenal after this weekend and are guaranteed to win the title if they win their last 11 league matches.
Guardiola has embarked on an expensive overhaul of City’s squad in the last 12 months, shedding aging stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Kyle Walker and bringing in the likes of Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki.
The Spaniard is well aware that his new generation largely lacks the experience of winning under the pressure of a title race, which made their gritty success against Newcastle even more meaningful.
“70 percent of the players have never been in that situation, and I don’t play. So we have to live it, they know that every game will be like this,” he said.
“Especially at home, with five home games left. Today was the best crowd of the year, it was unbelievable with our people, really proud to be manager of these incredible people and fans.
“Of course in terms of points it’s important, but we have to improve to have chance to compete until the end. Now we deserve three more days off. Then another battle in Leeds.”
Guardiola singled out O’Reilly for praise after the young England midfielder’s pair of clinical finishes showed he won’t be affected by the strain of chasing Arsenal.
“Nico give us in the middle that physicality that we need. He now plays in his position,” he said.
“He has always played that, he is so complete and so young. I am really pleased the academy produced these incredible players, Nico, Phil (Foden), Rico (Lewis).”
