Didn’t we play this game back in December? Back then it was poor execution and a Radmanovic three that sent the Warriors to OT and eventual victory. This time, it was missed free throws and a Monta Ellis jumper with .9 seconds left that sent the Warriors to OT and eventual victory.
The Kings had a few chances to seal the game at the end, sending DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, and Pooh Jeter to the line all through the last minute of regulation. But they each went only 1-2, furthering the Kings shooting misery at the stripe (the team shot 25-37, or 67.6%), and Monta Ellis hit a big three pointer as well as the game tying jumper to send the game to overtime. The Warriors would outscore the Kings by 7 in OT, including the first 10 points of the extra period.
Ellis would finish 28 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds, and he along with Stephen Curry (34 points) led the Warriors in scoring. All might not be well with him though as he left the game in the final minute of regulation with what looked to be a left ankle injury. He had to be helped to the locker room and as of yet no word has been received on the severity of the injury.
For Sacramento they had big games from their young core, including a career high 35 points for Tyreke Evans, and 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for DeMarcus Cousins, but nobody else was able to step up. The normally reliable Beno Udrih had his first bad game in weeks, shooting only 2-7 from the floor for 11 points.
Both teams were sloppy with the ball, as Sacramento committed 20 turnovers and the Warriors 19.
For Sacramento, this loss really has to hurt. The schedule doesn’t get any easier going forward, and losing a whole bunch of games that they should have won isn’t an easy pill to swallow. The team needs to regroup and refocus, and get ready for Portland on Sunday.