Despite the absence of Draymond Green due to suspension, the Golden State Warriors opened their first playoff game at home by setting the tone early.
With players like Moses Moody and Donte DiVincenzo stepping up, plus a pair of triples from Klay Thompson, the Warriors jumped out to a commanding 29-20 lead in the first quarter.
Trailing 2-0 in the series, the Warriors never looked back after their positive start in Game 3 in front of the rowdy Chase Center home crowd. On the way to a much-needed 114-97 win, the Warriors led wire-to-wire, never trailing in the contest.
Steph Curry led the way with 36 points on 12-of-29 shooting from the field with six made triples to go along with six boards and three assists. With Green out, Steve Kerr and the Warriors leaned heavily on Kevon Looney in the frontcourt and he delivered.
Looney snatched a game-high 20 boards as the Warriors got on the boards in Game 3 to move the series to 2-1. With Green and Gary Payton II out, Moody stepped up off the bench, scoring 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field in 16 minutes. The Warriors will have the chance to even things up with another game set for Sunday afternoon in San Francisco.
Following the Warriors’ win in Game 3, the NBA community on Twitter chimed in with a flurry of reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Thursday night.
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POV: You just watched Stephen Curry hit a huge three to end the half pic.twitter.com/BUUGmfaOBc
— Sam Hustis (@SamHustis) April 21, 2023
“They say Draymond’s got a history. So do we.”
– Stephen Curry
— De🅿️ressed Warriors Fan 🏆 (@GoIdenState) April 21, 2023
THE CURRYS ARE HYPED IN GAME 3‼️ pic.twitter.com/opFiESwACd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 21, 2023
Just different… Steph Curry from WAY outside 🔥
Warriors lead as Q3 wraps up on TNT. pic.twitter.com/Vh3PtXOfdF
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2023
Stephen Curry has passed Dirk Nowitzki for the 16th most career points in NBA Playoff history.
Keep going, @StephenCurry30 pic.twitter.com/NfwPeNus4z
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 21, 2023
Steph Curry has still NEVER been swept in the playoffs (28 series) 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9rr9nloPAY
— Guru (@DrGuru_) April 21, 2023
"That's my move!"
Steph Curry to Donte DiVincenzo 🤣pic.twitter.com/9SDvqCKbut
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 21, 2023
“they say draymond’s got a history, so do we.”
BARS from steph curry
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) April 21, 2023
“They said you know Draymond’s got a history so do we.” – Stephen Curry
— Nat 🇯🇲 (@natfluential) April 21, 2023
Me trying to write another article about Steph Curry pic.twitter.com/V2Ns8vsI7q
— Brady Klopfer (@BradyKlopferNBA) April 21, 2023
Steph Curry tonight:
36 PTS – 6 REB – 3 AST – 50% 3PAndrew Wiggins tonight:
20 PTS – 7 REB – 50% FG – 50% 3PKevon Looney tonight:
4 PTS – 20 REB – 9 AST – 1 STL🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/DeiewH5w39
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 21, 2023
📍 Curry Range
📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/DaGNNUvUDG
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 21, 2023
Warriors win Game 3
*Steph Curry: 36 points, six 3s
*Kevon Looney: 20 rebounds, 9 assists, held down Sabonis
*Warriors: 19 offensive rebounds, only 12 turnovers
*Andrew Wiggins: Quiet 20
*Moody/Kuminga: 19 combined
*Kings up 2-1 in series. Huge Game 4 on Sunday afternoon in SF.— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 21, 2023
Steph Curry tonight:
36 pts
6 reb
3 ast
2 stl
50% 3PTStroked that thang and got the W 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GY9L1CONoE
— De🅿️ressed Warriors Fan 🏆 (@GoIdenState) April 21, 2023
All-time playoff 3-pointers:
576 — Steph Curry
471 — Sacramento Kings pic.twitter.com/7EAchKV1ul— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 21, 2023
Juan Toscano Anderson is a guest in the Curry family's seats tonight
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) April 21, 2023
Stephen Curry in tonight’s must win game:
36 PTS
6 REB
2 STL
1 BLK
6-12 3P
+24 (game-high)No Draymond, no GPII, no problem.
— Antonin (@antonin_org) April 21, 2023
Stephen Curry in tonight’s must win game:
36 PTS
6 REB
2 STL
1 BLK
6-12 3P
+24 (game-high)No Draymond, no GPII, no problem.
— Antonin (@antonin_org) April 21, 2023
Tonight was only the fifth time the Kings were held under 100 points this season. They lost all five games
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) April 21, 2023
Kings from 3 in this series
*12-of-32
*9-of-38
*11-of-46Total: 32-of-116 (27.5 percent)
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 21, 2023
Warriors 114, Kings 97. Without Draymond and GPII, Golden State delivers an a– whooping reminiscent of past Warriors teams. Curry, of course, led the charge with 36 points.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) April 21, 2023
Warriors defeat Sacramento 114-97 to make it a 2-1 series.
Twenty rebounds and nine assists for Kevon Looney. Stephen Curry did Stephen Curry things, finishing with a game-high 36 points and six 3s.
We will have a Game 5 Wednesday at Golden 1 Center at the very least.
— C.J. Holmes 🚀 (@CjHolmes22) April 21, 2023
Warriors hit their goal of 12 or fewer turnovers. That plus 19 offensive rebounds led to 100 shots — 8 more than the Kings
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) April 21, 2023
i’m so glad the Ws showed up and smacked the kings. thank you so much
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) April 21, 2023
