Halftime Comebacks Have Landed Warriors In Record Books

A hallmark of the dynastic Warriors has returned for the start of this season.

And it has placed 4-0 Golden State in a spot all too familiar in the past decade – the history books.

With the victory over the Thunder on Tuesday night after an underwhelming 59-48 halftime deficit, the Warriors became the second team in league history to begin the season 4-0 despite losing at halftime in each contest, according to ESPN Stats & Info. This was a rare instance in which it was good to line yourself up with the Clippers – especially a Clippers team from the pre-Lob City era – as Golden State became the second team to accomplish this feat after Los Angeles did so in the 1985-86 season.

Coming out of the locker room with an onslaught of scoring and a precision in execution was something that was not only enjoyed by Warriors fans in the team’s run to five consecutive NBA Finals, but it became something to be expected. Down double-digits to an opponent that should be overmatched – just as then-winless Thunder were – was more of a reflection of a dominant Golden State underperforming than being the worse team that night.

Of course, Kevin Durant seems, for better or worse, like he will be in Brooklyn and not rejoin the Warriors anytime soon. Klay Thompson is still injured but could hopefully join the team later this season. Thus, it isn’t productive to confidently act like no comeback is too large for the 2021-22 edition of Golden State to make, but the signs of the second-half turnarounds of old are positive. Plus, any game with the two-time MVP Stephen Curry gives you a fighter’s chance. 

Trailing by a pair of points at the half from the Staples Center on opening night, the Warriors rode 16 second-half points from Jordan Poole, five assists from Curry and a nine-point, five- rebound and three-assist closing half stint from Nemanja Bjelica to victory. Poole did his thing individually driving to the rim, but the team’s great passing yielded 16 assists and 68 second half points, allowing for a 121-114 win despite a respectable 55 points from the Lakers and double-digit finishing scoring performances from LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The second half in game #2 against the Clippers had the Warriors trying to win the game for a second time at the Chase Center, thanks to their surrendering of a 17-point second quarter lead and the subsequent one-point deficit for the home side. This time, the tried-and-true Curry and defense method prevailed at the end. Golden State held Los Angeles to 34% from the field in the second half, offsetting the Warriors’ turnover woes (they had nine turnovers and nine assists coming out of the locker room) and allowing two Curry triples to seal the contest at the end.

A short road trip to the state’s capital Sunday saw a first half shooting struggle for the Warriors, but a favorable turnover margin kept them close to the Kings, trailing only 62-60 despite Davion Mitchell’s 17-point explosion. Ball security told the story of Golden State’s second stanza, turning the ball over two times to Sacramento’s 11, giving them eight more shots and an eventual 119-107 victory.

The long-winded point is this; the Warriors have a stronger bench than in the last two seasons, and can turn on a second gear in a variety of ways to claim victory. Facing a young team like the Thunder, lacking a bonafide scoring option aside from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Golden State’s talent coming out of the locker room will probably be enough to overcome any deficit.

But to win games from behind come springtime, the Warriors will have to tap into smart, controlled and disciplined basketball, and luckily have the formula for second half success at their disposal.

(Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood / Getty Images)