The Reserves Showed They Can Finish Close Games Too
Down by 12 in Portland, Golden State's thinnest lineup clawed back twice before falling in the final minute, and the final score sells short what just happened.
The Warriors trailed by as many as 12, traded the lead ten times, and still lost 123-118 to Portland. Miles Kelly scored 24 off the bench and Dalen Terry played 43 minutes with 23 points, 9 assists and 4 steals, while Curry, Green and seven other regulars were held out of the trip.
A Game That Never Settled
Portland led by as many as 12 in the third quarter before Golden State's reserves answered with a 10-0 run in the second quarter and a 9-0 run early in the third, tying it at 86 heading into the fourth. Down 112-120 with 42 seconds left, Dalen Terry hit two threes and Alex Toohey added one to cut it to 118-123, but a scramble for the final rebound ran out the clock before another shot got up.
Forty-Three Minutes for a Reason
Terry played 43 minutes and finished with 23 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and 4 steals, his two late threes doing the actual cutting. Miles Kelly matched him off the bench, scoring 24 on 6-of-11 shooting from three and finishing a team-best plus-14.
The Closing Five Were All Fringe Names
Golden State closed with Charles Bassey, Terry, Malevy Leons, Kelly and Will Richard on the floor, a lineup with no regular starter among the five. Richard scored 15 on 3-of-3 shooting from three and forced Portland's final turnover with a steal; Bassey grabbed the last defensive rebound as time ran out. Brandon Williams started and scored 17 on 7-of-11 shooting in only 18 minutes, efficiency worth remembering once games start counting.
What It Means Before Kings Arrive
Golden State hosts Sacramento on October 10, its third game in four days with no rest before this one. Alex Toohey finished at minus-20 in 19 minutes and LJ Cryer at minus-18 in 18, a reminder that the same shorthanded script produced opposite results depending on who was on the floor. The open question is whether Steve Kerr trusts this same closing group again once the regulars start coming back; several are listed as day-to-day with an estimated return of October 10, the same date as the Kings game.
Who led the Warriors in the loss to Portland?
Miles Kelly scored 24 points off the bench on 6-of-11 shooting from three, and Dalen Terry added 23 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and 4 steals in 43 minutes.
When do the Warriors play next?
Golden State hosts the Sacramento Kings on October 10, their next game after the loss in Portland.
