Stephen
Curry's 157-game 3-point streak ends as Lakers thrash Warriors
Stephen Curry’s status as the greatest three-point shooter
in NBA history is not really in doubt. The Golden
State Warriors superstar
holds most major records for three-pointers made in the regular season and
playoffs, can make shots from pretty much anywhere on the court, and is
unguardable at his best. It’s safe to assume that he’ll make at least one
three-pointer every time he takes the court.
Friday night’s game at the Los Angeles Lakers therefore
ranks as one of the more surprising events of this young NBA season. Curry shot
0-of-10 from beyond the arc to end his NBA record streak of 157 games with a
three-pointer. Atlanta
Hawks sniper Kyle
Korver had held the previous record of 127 games, which Curry broke in February.
It was the first time Curry had gone a game without a
triple since November 11, 2014, when he shot 0-of-7 from deep in a loss to the
San Antonio Spurs. It was also just the eight time since an injury plagued
2011-12 season that Curry has missed all his three-point attempts.
Curry’s poor shooting was far from the only thing that
went wrong for the Warriors in a dominant 117-97 win for
the Lakers. Golden State shot 5-of-26 from beyond the arc as a team, with Klay
Thompson nearly matching his Splash Brother’s struggles with a 2-of-10 showing.
Many of those missed shots were open ones, which would maybe less concerning if
the Warriors hadn’t looked disengaged for long stretches of the game.
Yet the shooting woes were less concerning than Golden
State’s consistent defensive breakdowns. The Lakers’ athletic guards and active
bigs continually got to the rim to finish as six players scored at least 12
points. Young forwards Julius Randle (20 points and 14 rebounds) and Larry
Nance Jr. (12 points on 6-of-6 FG and nine rebounds) were particularly
disruptive, and Lou Williams (20 points in 26 minutes) kept the pressure on
with a strong showing off the bench.
It was likely an especially meaningful win for first-year
head coach Luke Walton, the Warriors’ lead assistant last season. The Lakers
have been very entertaining and competitive so far this season, improving to
3-3 with Friday’s win. It’s far too early and dangerously optimistic to rate
this very young squad as potentially playoff participant, but the Lakers seem
likely to play hard and provide plenty of fun moments every time they take the
floor. That’s more than could have been said of the franchise in the last few
years of Kobe Bryant’s career.
Despite the Lakers’ strengths, it’s hard to look at this
result as anything but a step back for the Warriors. They had looked like the dominant force we all expected in wins over the Portland Trail
Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week, but the team that took the
court at Staples Center looked hesitant and out of sorts. Last season’s 73-win
squad had a baffling blowout loss at the Lakers, too, and the challenge of
playing a road game one night after an emotional meeting with the Thunder cannot be discounted. Nevertheless,
the Warriors are too talented to offer so few positives over 48 minutes.
The good news is that next week offers two home games
against the struggling New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks to right the
ship. Plus, Curry will have the opportunity to start a whole new streak.
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