What we learned as Warriors squander late lead in overtime loss to Bulls
What we learned as Warriors squander late lead in overtime loss to Bulls originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Stephen Curry can’t return soon enough to help the Warriors pull out of a most unlikely tailspin that nosedived Tuesday night.
Playing a Chicago Bulls team with nothing to play for, the Warriors on Tuesday night often looked nothing like a team longing to reach the NBA playoffs.
A 130-124 overtime loss that drops the Warriors below .500 for the first time since Dec. 20. What makes it particularly devastating is that it follows a loss on Monday in Utah against the Jazz , who also are amid a roster renovation.
Two losses against teams fumbling about the NBA cellar almost certainly will prove costly.
Seven Warriors scored in double figures, led by 17 points each from LJ Cryer , Kristaps Porziņģis , Gui Santos and Pat Spencer . Al Horford had 13 points, while Gary Payton II and Draymond Green tossed in 12.
Porziņģis, Spencer, Cryer and Payton anchored a bench crew that piled up 65 points, outscoring Chicago’s reserves by 28.
Here are three observations from the second part of a back-to-back set against two teams fumbling about the NBA basement:
Another Porziņģis Sighting
For the second time in four days, Porziņģis participated in an NBA game. This is significant, as the last time he played two games in such a short span was before last Thanksgiving.
He not only survived but mostly thrived. After playing 23 minutes on Saturday at Oklahoma City , he came off the bench to play 20 impactful minutes against the Bulls.
Porziņģis’ 17 points came on 5-of-13 shooting from the field, including 2 of 6 from distance. He added four rebounds and two assists to finish plus-4.
It’s clear Porziņģis, whose movements can be tentative, still is working on better conditioning . That would explain why the 7-foot-2 Latvian spends so much time prowling the perimeter.
But he has played three games since joining the Warriors, and each appearance showcases various ways in which he can make them appreciably better on both ends.
If he can play 75 percent of the remaining games, the team will benefit. If not, it’s little more than a tease.
Cryer Continues to Impress
Generously listed at 6-feet, Cryer is the shortest man on Golden State’s roster. He overcomes his lack of size with effort and pluck that belies his status as a rookie on a two-way contract .
Cryer already has gained the confidence of his veteran teammates, notably Draymond Green and Al Horford. Moreover, coach Steve Kerr shows no hesitation in summoning the University of Houston product in crucial moments. Cryer not only was on the floor down the stretch but made three free throws inside the final 10 seconds of regulation.
Many of the moments Cryer played on this night were, well, crucial. He neither flinched nor blinked, scoring 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. He added two assists, one rebound and tenacious defense to finish plus-18 over 21 minutes.
Cryer was a huge part of an 21-4 run in the third quarter that provided the first indication of a possible comeback, scoring nine points during the four-minute stint.
The injury-depleted Warriors need Cryer’s bulldog attitude, and he’s bringing it.
Cold Welcome Home
After six days on the road, the Warriors returned to the Bay Area hoping for an immediate boost from the place they call home.
Golden State’s first half was anything but warm. The defense was haphazard, the offense listless and uncoordinated. The result was the Warriors going into the locker room trailing the lowly Bulls by six, 57-51.
Chicago outhustled the Warriors on both ends, picking apart their defense (19 assists, 10 by Josh Giddey ) and disrupting their offense to such degree that they shot 37.5 percent inside the arc and managed only nine assists – their lowest in a half since recording eight on Nov. 14 at San Antonio .
These Bulls were two nights removed from losing to the Sacramento Kings , who have the worst record in the NBA. And for most of the night, they looked superior to the Warriors.
