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The Warriors close the preseason with a win, defeating the Sacramento Kings 117-106

Stephen Curry looked locked in (scoring 18 points in 19 minutes) while rookie Jordan Bell posted a double-double

By Thomas Bevilacqua
Golden State Warriors Media Day
It was all smiles for Stephen Curry, who played great in the Warriors’ final preseason game, a victory over the Sacramento Kings
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The final preseason game for the Golden State Warriors lacked some star power as Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and Kevin Durant (who was honored Friday night with his own bobblehead) would all be missing the matchup with the Sacramento Kings. But Warriors fans had much to be excited about as heralded rookie forward Jordan Bell would be starting in the place of Green.

Bell made the most of his opportunity, posting a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while also blocking two shots, getting two steals, and making four assists in 25 minutes of action. Bell’s potential was on display early in the game on this pick-and-roll with Stephen Curry in the first quarter.

There was some bad news for the Warriors as free-agent acquisition Omri Casspi, who had looked good making back cuts to the basket throughout the preseason, rolled his ankle early in the second quarter.

Casspi would leave the game and not return after suffering, as reported by the team, a mild right ankle sprain. Without Casspi to take up those minutes in the first half, Steve Kerr turned to Kevon Looney.

Looney, who has struggled to find a place in the Warriors’ rotation, played some of his best basketball while scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds.

Curry, meanwhile, continued the hot streak that began in the second half of the second preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in China. Only playing in the first half, Curry would score 18 points while going 6-for-12 from the field, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range.

However, the Kings were able to make an exciting game of it, trailing by only three at the half. While players like Zach Randolph and De'Aaron Fox would sit out the game for the Kings, they would get great contributions from Skal Labissiere and David Stockton. Labissiere would score nine points and pull down eight rebounds while Stockton (son of Hall of Fame John Stockton) would score a game-high 23 points as well as handing out 8 assists.

In the second half, with Curry and Klay Thompson done for the night, the Warriors would be led by their two promising young players— Bell and Patrick McCaw.

While Bell continued to shine, as seen in that left-handed put-back dunk, McCaw started to knock down open shots. McCaw would finish with 17 points, taking open shots with even more confidence and looking like a player poised to continue to develop in his second NBA season.

Another player who made a strong contribution in the game was Nick Young. After missing his first two shots to start the game, Young would settle in and start to show what exactly he can offer the Warriors team.

With Young and McCaw’s shots falling and Bell continuing to contribute on the interior, the Warriors would pull away in the second half. The lead would eventually reach double digits as the Warriors would end the 2017 preseason with a 117-106 victory over the Kings.

Even while missing three of their key players and with the bench playing the entire second half, the Warriors took care of business Friday night against the Kings and looked like a team ready to start their title defense on Tuesday night.

Poll

Who was the Warrior Wonder for their final preseason win?

This poll is closed

  • 16%
    Stephen Curry
    (341 votes)
  • 0%
    Klay Thompson
    (11 votes)
  • 2%
    Nick Young
    (52 votes)
  • 71%
    Jordan Bell
    (1505 votes)
  • 0%
    Zaza Pachulia
    (11 votes)
  • 0%
    David West
    (2 votes)
  • 0%
    Omri Casspi
    (13 votes)
  • 2%
    Kevon Looney
    (58 votes)
  • 0%
    Georges Niang
    (15 votes)
  • 0%
    Javale McGee
    (6 votes)
  • 0%
    Damian Jones
    (6 votes)
  • 1%
    Patrick McCaw
    (41 votes)
  • 0%
    Shaun Livingston
    (3 votes)
  • 1%
    Michael Gbinije
    (37 votes)
2101 votes total Vote Now

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