[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Thompson fires up as Green ejected in Warriors-Kings tiff’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Sunday, February 19, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_image src=’http://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/sports-Warriors-2-356×400.jpg’ attachment=’97141′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=’yes’ font_size=’14’ appearance=’on-hover’ overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’]
Golden State guard Klay Thompson (11) blazes past the Sacramento Kings during their NBA clash at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.AP
[/av_image]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
OAKLAND – Missing his emotional leader and one of four All-Stars on Golden State’s roster after Draymond Green was ejected late in the second quarter, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was curious how his team would respond in its final tune-up before the break.
A big run in the third quarter quieted whatever concern Kerr had.
Klay Thompson scored 10 of his 35 points during the outburst and Golden State beat the Sacramento Kings, 109-86, on Wednesday night.
”Him getting thrown out kind of woke us up a bit,” Kevin Durant said of Green’s ejection. ”That third quarter was one of the best quarters we’ve had all year. We just upped our intensity. We made them feel us.”
Stephen Curry added 13 points and nine assists, and Durant had 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as the Warriors bounced back from a loss in Denver two nights earlier to head into the All-Star break an NBA-best 47-9.
Thompson, Curry and Durant will represent the Western Conference in Sunday’s All-Star Game at New Orleans, along with the fiery and vocal Green, who was ejected for the first time this season after picking up consecutive technical fouls in the second quarter.
It turned out to be the pivotal swing Golden State needed.
”I thought our guys just responded beautifully,” Kerr said. ”We were in tough shape without Draymond. We struggle sometimes without him to bring the energy. That wasn’t the case tonight.”
DeMarcus Cousins, who will also play for Kerr and the West, had 13 points and six assists for Sacramento. Matt Barnes added 15 points and Darren Collison scored 14.
Golden State looked like a team that could use the break before scoring 22 straight points in the third quarter to pull away.
Green’s ejection was symptomatic of Golden State’s sluggish start. He was hit with back-to-back technicals with 35.7 seconds left after being called for a foul on Cousins.
”Draymond’s always going to play on that edge and tonight he crossed that edge,” Kerr said. ”We don’t want to take away that chip on his shoulder, but we need him on the floor, too.” (AP)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
