Dubs in wait-and-see mode after Steph hurt late

BOSTON — There was a lot for the Golden State Warriors to digest following their 116-100 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday night in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. But on the top of their minds after falling behind 2-1 in the series was the status of their superstar, Stephen Curry.

With 4: 16 left in the game and the Warriors down by 12, Curry dove to the floor to try to secure a loose ball. He was met by Boston’s Al Horford, and as the two struggled to secure the possession, Horford rolled on top of Curry’s left leg.

Curry remained on the floor for a few minutes, writhing in pain.

“I saw him getting dove on,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “So I grabbed my foul pushing people off him, because he was screaming at the bottom. “

Curry came up with a noticeable limp.

“Obviously, in some pain, but I’ll be all right,” Curry said. “We’ll wait and see how it responds. There’s not much else to add. I don’t think I’ll be missing a game. Take advantage of these next 48 hours to get ready. As Curry entered and left the news conference room following the game, he walked cautiously trying to avoid putting pressure on his left foot.

Curry said the injury felt close to what he suffered against the visiting Celtics in March, when he sprained his foot on a similar play involving Marcus Smart. Curry was injured in Game 3 when he strained his left foot on a similar play involving Marcus Smart. Curry missed the final month of the regular season. Curry said Wednesday’s injury felt less severe.

“[Horford is] “Obviously, it’s a large body,” Curry stated. Curry said that he hasn’t seen the play so he doesn’t know if it could be avoided. Marcus was back in the Bay when I was in that position. You just want to get out. Knowing the situation I was in, that was all I tried to do. It’s not as bad as I think. It should respond well in the next two days. “

“We’ll know more tomorrow,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said with a stern tone.

Losing Curry, even for just one game, would be detrimental to the Warriors’ title hopes. Even a shaky Curry would not bode well for Golden State.

Through the first three games, Curry has been the Warriors’ best player and the only source of consistency. In Game 3, he scored 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting, including six 3-pointers. He finally got some help from Splash Brother Klay Thompson, who finished with 25 points, but that was in exchange for a largely absent Green.

Green scored just two points and failed to provide any impact on defense. He didn’t show the same intensity or focus as he did in previous series against the Warriors. He was unable to focus or give the same intensity when he tried to help Curry in the scrum.

” I was s —,” Green stated, his son at his side as he answered questions from the media. Later, he called himself “soft.” “

Green’s performance didn’t stop Celtics fans from raining down “F— you, Draymond” chants consistently throughout the night.

“We’ve played in front of rude people before,” Thompson said. Thompson said, “Dropping F bombs with children in crowd. This is a real class act. Good job, Boston. “

Golden State guard Jordan Poole contributed 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting but continued to struggle to find a meaningful way to impact his team.

Boston made Curry work for every shot he took, smothering him on defense all night. Curry was limited to two transition plays by the Celtics after attempting five in each of his first two games.

They also forced Curry to leave the paint. Curry attempted just three field goals from within 9 feet of his basket. (He combined for 12 such attempts in Games 1 and 2. )

“Their personnel and the way that they defend, they are very physical,” Curry said. “They have a way of, obviously with Marcus on the ball, he’s pretty aggressive, and Robert [Williams III] behind the play, they usually have lot of length and size on the wings. “

Because he couldn’t drive to the rim and create contact, Curry attempted just one free throw — a flagrant foul 1 penalty shot in the third quarter after it was deemed Horford didn’t give Curry enough landing room on his made 3-point shot.

” Curry said that he doesn’t understand why Curry was allowed to make one free throw. “Felt like there were a few possessions or plays that could’ve gone my way. “

The last time Curry had just one free throw attempt in a playoff game was in 2018. It is difficult to understand the game flow based on some of my calls where I had four and you have to defend a certain manner because you want the game to go its own way. Curry said, “But you have to find a way that you can be effective regardless of how the game is called. It’s a valuable lesson to learn for next game. The free throw disparity was not the reason for the Warriors’ loss. (Boston shot 24 to Golden State’s 15.) It was due to the physicality of the Celtics.

Boston outrebounded Golden State 47-31, including 15-6 on offensive boards. The Celtics also outscored the Warriors in the paint 52-26.

“That was really the main issue — the point-of-attack defense,” Kerr said. “They got past our. It was not based on the sets they were running. It was more that they were coming downhill towards us, and they got by us, and that hurt. “

The Warriors trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half. They played a great third quarter, taking a lead after a seven point possession late in the game. They couldn’t sustain it in the fourth, which led to the Celtics winning the game.

The Warriors know they need to find a way to play more consistently throughout all 48 minutes. They know they must bring the same force they showed in Game 2 victory. They all know they need more contributions from the rotation.

But they all know that Curry will not be available to make any of this matter.

” We need him if this thing is to be won,” Thompson stated. “I know Steph will do everything in his power to play. I really hope he’s okay because he is our identity and it will be very difficult without him. “