SAN FRANCISCO – During a timeout early in the fourth quarter on Friday night, Steph Curry stepped to the top of the key, decked out in an olive green sweatsuit. He had no points, no rebounds, no assists, and no ball. Like a lot of us do when we’re killing time, Steph just dribbled a pretend basketball and hoisted pretend shots.
Perhaps as soon as Sunday, he won’t have to visualize any more. In what could have been their final game in a month-long stretch without Steph, the Warriors finished strong against the New Orleans Pelicans to win 108-99.
Golden State might be peaking just as its superstar leader is set to return. Friday’s victory wrapped up a perfect 5-0 homestand, matching the Warriors’ longest win streak of the season so far. They’re also 7-4 since Steph went out with his leg injury on Feb. 4.
"It's exciting," Klay Thompson said of Curry possibly returning Sunday. "No time to relax, though. Just because Steph is coming back, we can't slouch our shoulders and expect him to save us. We gotta keep playing with the same mindset and the same effort. It will make us that much better."
Once again, the Dubs had to show some mettle to pull off Friday’s win. They trailed by as many as 17 in an ugly first quarter when they lacked any offensive connection, while the Pelicans were hot from deep (62.5 percent from 3). Whereas the past three contests required notable second-half comebacks, Friday’s win included a 19-8 run by Golden State to end the game.
The Warriors no longer look like they’re prone to falling apart and letting leads slip away. Perhaps they’ve finally been able to shake those fourth-quarter struggles and the propensity to foul all night long.
"I think it's just a lot of grit," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Every one of these wins it felt like was marked by our team kinda getting over the hump. A lot of overcoming a lot of deficits, turning up the defense and grinding out games down the stretch. It's been exciting to see our team, I think turn a corner, but we still need to go out and win on the road. But this was a great homestand for us."
As has become routine since Steph has been out, Klay carried the offense on his back with a team-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 4-of-9 from distance. Without Andrew Wiggins, who missed his seventh straight game due to a personal matter, Klay also stepped up on defense and was hungry to guard top Pels option Brandon Ingram, checking him from 30 feet out on occasion.
For the third straight game, the Warriors successfully executed a defensive game plan. Against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Golden State blitzed Damian Lillard with a box-and-one. Against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, they let Draymond sag off Russell Westbrook and roam free. Against the Pelicans, the Warriors tried to make Ingram as uncomfortable as possible, especially with explosive big man Zion Williamson (hamstring) sidelined.
"You try to get into his body because he's so long," Klay said of Ingram. "He's gonna get to his spots. You just gotta try to be physical with a player like Brandon. You have to understand he's gonna score, but you just have to make it as difficult and tiresome as possible."
In all, six different players scored in double digits for the Warriors – including Klay, Jonathan Kuminga (19 points), Jordan Poole (18 points), JaMychal Green (14) and Anthony Lamb (11). The Warriors' bench also outscored New Orleans' 46-28.
At 34-30, the Warriors are four games above .500 for the first time all season and just a game back of Phoenix (35-29) for the No. 4 seed in the West. Steph told TNT on Thursday he expects to return Sunday, so the Warriors may have passed their stiff midseason test with flying colors.
Now we'll have to see if they can pack their defense and bring it on the road, where the Warriors are still just 7-23 away from Chase Center. Klay, for one, thinks Golden State has turned a corner with its latest homestand.
"I think guys are figuring out their roles and I think we're in great condition," Klay said. "We're just having fun, above all."
