Warriors let another one slip away in the final seconds in 96-100 loss to Magic
Evan Fournier ties a career high 32 points that included the sealing basket, pushing the Magic past the Golden State Warriors 100-96 on Sunday night.
Glenn Robinson III led Golden State with 19 points. Eric Paschall scored 17 points and Alec Burks 15 for the Warriors, who had all five starters score in double figures. The loss marked the Golden State’s fifth defeat in six games.
The fourth quarter was back-and-forth, with neither side able to get more than a three-point lead until Ross drained a 3-pointer from the wing to make it 93-89 with 1:23 left in the game. Orlando increased its lead to six when Khem Burch made two free throws, but Golden State wasn’t done.
The Dubs were down six going into the last minute and were able to cut the lead to 96-95 on a 3-pointer by Burks with 33 seconds to play.
The Magic called on Fournier, who drove around the former Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, and through the Warriors’ interior defense to make a layup that gave Orlando a 98-95 lead with 9.7 seconds left.
Golden State couldn't finish off the rally from there.
Burks hit one free throw to make it a two-point game and had one more attempt, but missed a last second three-point attempt that would have won the game.
“Tonight was a really good fight,” Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr said. “We were able to compete, and we defended like crazy. We couldn’t do that against anybody in the first part of the season, so that’s an improvement. We’ll get over the hump, but it’s just not there yet.”
Fournier, who had a dismal shooting season last year, was 13-for-21 shooting, including 6 of 10 from 3-point range against the Dubs-- further exposing the Warriors’ season long perimeter defensive struggles. His biggest basket came with 9.3 seconds left in the game and Orlando clinging to a 96-95 lead.
Fournier went one-on-one with Draymond Green, a former defensive player of the year. He beat Green off the dribble and continued through a wall of interior defenders to lay the ball in and give the Magic a 98-95 advantage.
The current Warriors squad-- despite showing improvement in simple fundamentals each game-- has the characteristics of a typical lottery team. Each night, no matter the opponent, there is a possibility that the Dubs will allow a career night. Along with that, down the stretch execution, defensively and offensively, have been weak points the entire season.
The fix to these problems comes with experience. That experience won’t come through practice or even the 21 games they’ve played. It will develop throughout the season, without a time table.
What does have a time table, and might patch up some of the many deficiencies the Dubs have been having, is the possible return of the Warriors’ forward Kevon Looney Monday night.
Looney has been out of action for the past 20 games behind a hamstring injury. Last season Looney had sort of a coming out season, playing a pivotal role in Golden State’s championship run-- especially after the injury to Kevin Durant.
Looney’s return give the Dubs another defensive anchor, scoring threat, and vet to help lead in late game situations. With all that said, Looney is just a bandaid for the flow of problems that have been coming the Warriors’ way. As long as Curry and Thompson remain sidelined, the Dubs’ success will be dependent on the progression of the young core-- something that will take time.
The Warriors are back in action Monday night in Atlanta at 4:30 PT.