Warriors get plenty of help from Cavaliers but can’t exploit it in late loss

SAN FRANCISCO – The roster-thin Warriors could not have begged for much more help than they received Thursday night inside Chase Center, in Los Angeles and even in Oklahoma City.If only they could have taken advantage of this rare opportunity.In the third of four consecutive games against superior opponents, the Warriors were plucky enough but found too few solutions to the challenge of the Cleveland Cavaliers. They were too physically compromised, too imprecise with their shooting and too sloppy with their late-game defense to avoid a third consecutive defeat.A 118-111 loss assures Golden State (36-41) will not finish over .500 for only the second time since the 2011-12 season, when Steve Kerr was a TV analyst and the Warriors closed the season with a starting lineup featuring Jeremy Tyler and Mickell Gladness.Golden State’s effort was, once again, commendable. The Warriors spilled guts and left plenty of blood of the floor. But the scoreboard doesn’t reward exercise.“Just didn’t make enough shots,” coach Steve Kerr said, referring to 43.6-percent shooting from the field, including 27.3 percent from deep. “But the process was really good. All night, we took care of the ball. Got a lot of offensive rebounds. We won the possession game. We had our chances, 13 extra field-goal attempts.“So just sometimes, just comes down to making a few shots.”The Warriors, sitting uneasily in 10th place in the Western Conference, had an opportunity to generate at least a modicum of momentum going into their final five games. The Los Angeles Clippers lost for the second time in three nights, dropping from eighth place to ninth after falling 118-99 at home to San Antonio, who was playing without MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama. Rather than gaining a game on LA, Golden State remains a full three games back.The Warriors also might have gotten a break in OKC, where the Lakers — who they face next week at Chase — not only were pummeled by the Thunder but left town after MVP candidate Luka Doni limped off the floor with a left hamstring injury, something typically slow to heal. Austin Reaves also showed signs of back discomfort and will be examined.Any team’s misery is unfortunate, as the Warriors well know. But as they await the return of Stephen Curry, expected on Sunday, they’re seeking every edge that comes their way, no matter how small.Yet it was on their own floor that the Warriors could not exploit some direct assistance. The Cavaliers gifted them with 23 points off 15 turnovers — and even gave them three free throws and an extra possession during some undisciplined play by Cleveland in the fourth quarter.The Warriors took a 103-100 lead on a Gui Santos triple with 4:17 remaining but were outscored 18-8 over the final 4:01. Cavaliers forward Max Strus had a couple 3-pointers — both wide open — inside the final two minutes to secure the victory.“The last one was my fault,” Brandin Podziemski said. “I looked at the shot clock and saw Gui (Santos) out there with a lot of space, and it said three (seconds) on the (shot) clock. If I go, I don’t think he’ll have enough time to see me pick it up and throw. I’ll take responsibility for that.”Kerr, recognizing Strus’ triples sealed their defeat, didn’t dispute Podziemski’s assessment.“The first one, it looked like we over-rotated to start the play, and they got the ball behind us, and then we were scrambling,” Kerr said. “And the second one, BP came over to double, which came over a half second too soon, one second on the clock.”The loss wasted a solid game from Podziemski (25 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, including 2-of-5 from distance, four rebounds, four assists and two steals) as well as another stellar performance by Santos, who also produced 25 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.It was clear, though, that the four players who returned after being sidelined Wednesday — De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziis and Santos — were moving with vary degrees of discomfort. Melton’s left thumb injury left him playing one-handed and contributed to 2-of-12 shooting, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, and two turnovers.Each loss hurts, particularly for a team in the final two weeks of a season rife with injuries and ailments and trying to rise above it. It’s a bit more painful when charity comes your way, and you can’t find a way to benefit.Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Warriors get plenty of help from Cavaliers but can’t exploit it in late loss

Trending News