LOS ANGELES — With their backs against the wall, the Golden State Warriors responded like champions do: With poise under pressure.
Steph Curry hit 5-of-11 threes and finished with 32 points to help the Warriors avoid falling into a 1-3 series hole by beating a very dangerous Sacramento Kings team, 126-125, in Game 4 of their hotly-contested opening round series.
Before a capacity crowd of 18,064 fans inside the Chase Center, fellow Warriors rallied behind their superstar point guard.
Klay Thompson finished with 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting while Jordan Poole, thanks to an efficient 8-for-15 fare from the field, scattered 23 points. Andrew Wiggins added 18 points and eight rebounds and Kevin Looney, who anchored a stingy interior defense, pitched eight points and 14 rebounds.
Pushed near the brink after losing the first two games in Sacramento, the Warriors escaped Game 3 before pulling even in Game 4 where they shot 50 percent from the field (45 of 90) and 41.2 percent from 3-point range (14-of-34).
“These games are coming down to the wire, and you’ve just got to really finish possessions and try to give yourself the best chance to win, and then sometimes, it’s just, does the ball go in or not,” Golden State head coach said at his post-game press conference.
And for the vanquished Kings, it was simply about missed opportunities.
“Wide open.” Harrison Barnes said of the potential game-winning triple attempt he missed at the buzzer.
Barnes finished with only nine points but De’Aaron, who was just named the NBA Clutch Player, sizzled with 38 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Unfortunately, he sustained a fractured finger and is doubtful for Game 5 at the Golden Center in Sacramento on Wednesday (Thursday morning in Manila).
The loss spoiled a fine effort from Kings rookie Keegan Murray, who drilled five triples en route to 23 points. Damontas Sabonis tallied 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
