Golden State Warriors Hold Off the Brooklyn Nets
You know those games on the schedule that look like automatic losses? The ones where a team plays an overtime thriller in another country, flies through customs, lands in the middle of the night, and has to lace ’em up again less than 24 hours later? That was the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
Coming off a grind-it-out loss in Toronto, the Dubs rolled into Barclays Center on fumes. The Brooklyn Nets, fresh off a three-game win streak and resting at home, should have run them out of the gym. It was the perfect trap game.
But somebody forgot to tell the Warriors bench that they were supposed to be tired. Instead of a Nets coronation, we got a classic Steve Kerr masterclass in depth management, as Golden State flipped the script for a 120-107 victory that left the Brooklyn crowd scratching their heads.
The Warriors Bench Mob Steals the Show
Usually, when you see a 13-man rotation, it means a coach is panicking. For Kerr, it was a necessity. But the reserves didn’t just eat up minutes; they ate the Nets alive.
The turning point wasn’t a Steph Curry three. It was Will Richard deciding he wanted the ball more than anyone else in a black jersey. Late in the fourth, with the game still hanging in the balance, Richard ripped the ball away at midcourt. Now, most rookies would take that layup to pad their stats. Richard? He dropped a dime to Trayce Jackson-Davis for a thunderous slam that effectively put the game on ice.
That play was a microcosm of the night. The Warriors second unit poured in 58 points. De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Jackson-Davis were everywhere, outscoring the Nets’ reserves 58-27. When your bench gets doubled up like that, you aren’t winning in the NBA.
Steph Curry Makes History (Again)
It wouldn’t be a Warriors recap without mentioning the Chef. Despite the heavy legs, Steph Curry did what he does best. He dropped 27 points, but the headline here is the history books.
With his performance on Monday, Curry surpassed the legendary Kevin Garnett to move into 21st place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. It’s wild to think about a point guard passing the “Big Ticket” in points, but that’s the Curry revolution for you. Even on a night where the story was the “Bench Mob,” Steph was the engine that kept the car moving.
Nets Squander Big Nights From Porter Jr. and Demin
You have to feel a little bad for Michael Porter Jr. The guy is playing out of his mind right now. MPJ finished with 27 points and 9 rebounds, continuing an All-Star caliber campaign where he’s been a walking bucket. He’s shooting nearly 50% from the field this season.
And let’s give some flowers to the rookie, Egor Demin. The 19-year-old didn’t blink when staring down a legend like Curry. He dropped 23 points and controlled the offense like a ten-year vet. Brooklyn has a serious piece for the future there.
But basketball is a 48-minute game, and Brooklyn’s starters can’t play all of them. Every time MPJ or Nic Claxton sat down, the Warriors went on a run. The Nets’ momentum from their road trip hit a brick wall, largely because their depth just couldn’t hang with Golden State’s energy.
A Bittersweet Goodbye For Golden State
The win came with a side of nostalgia. This was the last ride with the Warriors for defensive guru Chris DeMarco. He’s staying in Brooklyn, not to join the Nets, but to take over as head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty.
DeMarco has been a fixture on the Warriors’ bench for a dozen years, seeing four titles and the rise of a dynasty. It was a fitting send-off: a gritty, defensive-minded win where the system won out over fatigue.
The Warriors now head to Charlotte to wrap up this road trip, hopefully with a little more sleep. As for the Nets? They’ve got to figure out how to get MPJ some help when he needs a breather, or this loss won’t be the last one.
