Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
When the second-highest-point output from a starter is five points, it’s hard to win NBA games.
A slog of an effort by the Warriors, who got 27 total points from their opening five, resulted in their fourth straight loss, 111-104, immediately returning the goodwill earned by running off four straight prior. A third-quarter ejection of Draymond Green provided the Pistons’ game-deciding spark, which is far less concerning than the general apathy the Warriors played with.
After falling at Chase Center in front of a sellout crowd of 18,064 on Saturday, Golden State will head to Sacramento on Monday. Here are some takeaways from a game otherwise best forgotten.
Burks improves trade stock
The Warriors, running out of time for two-way guys Damion Lee and Ky Bowman, could use some roster flexibility to free one up (likely Lee) for a guaranteed NBA deal.
And several NBA contenders, setting themselves up for playoff runs, could use a scoring wing off the bench.
Alec Burks was easily the best player on the Warriors on Saturday, accounting for 27 points in just 32 minutes, shooting 5-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from behind the arc.
With more playing time, he’s having a career season, entering action averaging 15.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He’s an able defender and a strong shooter who, when needed, can find his own shot. The 28-year-old makes a lot of sense for a lot of teams, and more games like this one would help the Warriors’ trade haul.
Going Green
Draymond mocked the refs technical call and got ejected
I'm crying ?? pic.twitter.com/iKfoyR7qpZ
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) January 5, 2020
The game was very much in the balance with 4:57 to play in the third, the Warriors down 73-68 and the crowd awaiting something to get excited about.
Green gave them the wrong outlet.
The Warriors forward got himself ejected with back-to-back technicals, arguing a no-call with official Tre Maddox, who gave him the first technical. (After the tech, Green imitated the “T” motion right back at Maddox.) After the Pistons sunk the free throw, Green kept jawing, and then he was gone.
If Green wanted to fire up the team, that backfired. A five-point game was soon 81-69, and while the Warriors kept afloat, they never mounted much of a threat afterward.
It was the second ejection ever at Chase Center — Green also had the first — and left a Warriors squad already down D’Angelo Russell even more shorthanded. Before the boot, Green had two points, six rebounds, a block and three assists in 22 minutes.
Hi and bye, Jordan?
Jordan Poole did not look like a brand-new player, but he also did not look like he was miscast as an NBA player.
For much of his rookie season, that’s exactly what the 20-year-old has played like, which led to a demotion to the G League. He shot just 25 percent in 29 games prior to the Santa Cruz stint, which briefly ended Saturday, as he was called up for a team that again was missing Russell (shoulder). Santa Cruz had an off-day and the timing worked out for his call-up.
Poole was a surprising plus-19, his hustle standing out in a game many sleptwalked through. He came up with a pair of steals and went 2-for-5 for four points, plus two assists.
While Steve Kerr warned a demotion could follow the game, it was an encouraging effort from Poole.
“The whole point [of the G League] is to build the right habits,” Kerr said before the game. “For someone like Jordan, that means work well without the ball, fly off screens, transition defense, play with great energy. All the same things I’m going to ask of him here, that’s what I expect of him in Santa Cruz.”