© Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
If only the Warriors could play the Bulls every day.
Only 10 short days ago the Warriors notched their fourth win of the year when they beat the Chicago Bulls in San Francisco. Friday night Golden State played their second and final game – barring an NBA Finals matchup – of the season against Chicago and won again, their fifth on the year.
Here’s three things we we learned from the win:
Warriors continue cautious approach with Kevon Looney
Kevon Looney played his third game since returning from an extended break from basketball with a neuropathic condition, but didn’t play long enough to make a large impact. The UCLA product logged only eight minutes on the night and took one shot, grabbed one rebound and turned the ball over twice.
The center played 15 minutes in his return and only 12 in his second game back, so it appears the Warriors are taking their time working Looney back into the rotation full-time. It’s odd that Looney’s minutes have been decreasing since his return to the court, and will be interesting to see how Kerr handles his workload going forward.
GRIII heating up
Over the past few weeks Glen Robinson III has quietly put together a strong stretch of basketball. The lanky wing is averaging an efficient 13 ppg over his last dozen starts.
Friday he led all Warriors with 20 points. It was the fourth time this year Robinson eclipsed the 20-point mark. He also hit the game-winning alley-oop with a minute left after Draymond Green hit him with a beautiful pass.
The former Michigander is playing more minutes than he ever has in his five-year career, starting the first 23 games for the Warriors this season. The extended run has contributed to a respectable .449 shooting percentage, the second-highest of his career.
D’Angelo Russell: Cold on the court, hot off it
D’Angelo Russell played his second game since missing nine contests with a sprained thumb and had a tough time shooting the ball. The All-Star took eight shots, all from outside the arc, and hit a pair.
He almost put the Warriors in a hole at the end of the game after missing back-to-back threes on Golden State’s final offensive possession, but the Warriors were able to get a stop on the other end and salvage the win.
That’s not to say Russell was cold all night. He padded the stat sheet with seven boards and five assists in his 29 minutes. He also dropped the dance move of the night after Eric Paschall bullied his way to the basket:
It’s Friday night and (DLo) feels alriiiiight
— KNBR (@KNBR) December 7, 2019
Despite his down night, his Warriors secured the win and the party’s here on the west side as the team moves to 5-19 on the year. Golden State now has two days off before returning home to host Ja Morant and the Grizzlies – one of the four teams the Warriors have beaten in 2019.