What we learned as Steph goes cold in Warriors’ loss to Pacers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Jonathan Kuminga was back on top form, scoring 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds, but the Warriors couldn’t hold on and lost to the Indiana Pacers 111-105 on Monday at Chase Center.
Stéphane Curry had a rough shooting night and finished with 10 points and seven assists. He only shot 2 of 13 overall.
Andrew Wiggins scored 16 points. Tracey Jackson-Davis had 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists while Buddy Hield added 13 points.
The Warriors trailed most of the night and were down 106-104 with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get any closer despite a late Pacers turnover. Curry’s potential go-ahead 3-pointer echoed off the front of the rim, and Indiana’s Myles Turner responded with a 3-pointer to help secure the victory for Indiana.
Golden State (15-13) has lost five of its last six games.
The Pacers remained the only undefeated NBA team at Chase Center with a 6-0 mark.
Next up for the Warriors will be the Los Angeles Lakers. The two teams will face off Wednesday at Chase Center, the centerpiece of the NBA’s Christmas party.
Here are the takeaways from Monday’s game:
J.K. listen, learn
Kuminga seemed to take Steve Kerr’s comments about attacking the rim and being more aggressive to heart. The 6-foot-7 forward, indirectly criticized for rushing his shot and not doing more to involve Curry in Friday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, came out in attack mode from the jump against the Pacers.
Almost every shot he took was inside the key and closing the rim, exactly the kind of thing he excels at. JK also showed extreme patience both with his shooting and getting the ball to others. Kuminga distributed four assists.
Kuminga’s effort was the basis of a great night for the Golden State bench, which held a 53-25 advantage over Indiana.
SSteph’s silent night
So much for making sure Curry stays involved in the offense.
The two-time NBA MVP only attempted four shots in the first half and missed them all. His only points in the first two quarters came via two free throws.
Curry didn’t make a bucket before making a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left in the third quarter. The 3-point king finished the night 2 of 9 from behind the arc.
TJD makes the presence felt
Jackson-Davis has played much better in recent days after Kerr put him back in the starting lineup.
After tying his season high of 15 points in Saturday’s game against the Timberwolves, Jackson-Davis provided a consistent presence on offense while helping the Warriors establish a consistent presence against the Pacers.
Jackson-Davis missed two rebounds to post his second double-double of the season.
