Stephen Curry Heads to Locker Room Again in Golden State Warriors’ Big Win over Utah Jazz
By Tej Kamaraju
Nov 18, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots a jump shot during the first quarter of the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
It happened again. The Golden State Warriors were casually defeating a team like they usually do and Stephen Curry got injured. In the fourth quarter, his head was slammed to the floor by 245-pound Marvin Williams after a loose ball. He went to the locker room with what appeared to be a head injury. More on him later.
This game for the Warriors was one of the most sloppily played games of the Warrior season thus far. Nevertheless, they came away with a 98-87 victory to improve their hot start to 8-3, winning back-to-back games over the Utah Jazz.
Beginning this game, neither team could find an offensive flow. Both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were cold as ice, going 1-for-12 in the quarter with two points. The Jazz, however, weren’t doing much better. In an abysmal shooting quarter, the Warriors saw themselves come out the leaders with a 22-19 lead.
In the second quarter, things started to pick up a bit. Curry exploded for a 15-point quarter and got Thompson involved with things as well. The Jazz defense seemed to be nonexistent and at the same time, the Warriors tightened up their defense. They went berserk to the tune of 37 points in the second quarter as opposed to the Jazz’s 17. To say the least, the Jazz really dug themselves a huge hole. A three-point lead at the end of the first quarter was extended to 23.
The Warriors seemed to have this game wrapped up, as they continued their hot shooting into the second half, but all of a sudden, a 28-point lead was cut in half and eventually down to 13. The Warriors missed plenty of good shots and turned the ball over repeatedly, setting up some Jazz fast break points. Enes Kanter and Gordon Hayward were instrumental in helping the Jazz make the score respectable.
The Warriors, however, weren’t having any comeback on this night. Thanks to three baskets in a row by Thompson, the Warriors regained their breathing room and then retook control of the game. The Jazz gave them a little bit of a scare late in the fourth, cutting the lead back down to 12, but the Dubs emerged victorious. The real concern, however, was the head injury to Curry early in the fourth quarter.
Curry is obviously the Warriors’ best player and if he misses the game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors may be in quite a bit of trouble. They have a reality-check game against them on Wednesday.