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The Golden State Warriors fell to the Sacramento Kings 110–106 on Monday night at Oracle Arena as Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant sat out to nurse minor ailments. With their two top dogs out, the Warriors leaned on their depth and youth as Klay Thompson scored 21 and Draymond Green dropped 14 and 8 assists. But the Kings took advantage of repeated collapses down the stretch of quarters to steal a game from the Dubs.
The Warriors honored former Dubs forward and champion Matt Barnes during the pregame with a championship ring and congratulatory speech from Draymond Green.
Great moment on #WarriorsGround as @Matt_Barnes22 receives his 2017 Championship pic.twitter.com/mBpHBzPQO8
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 28, 2017
Green then promptly nailed a 3-pointer for the first Warriors bucket of the night. Klay Thompson opened with clear aggression, looking for his shot early and often. But against a patient Sacramento squad, the Warriors were led in the first half by second year wingman Patrick McCaw and the electric rookie Jordan Bell. McCaw stuffed the stat sheet with 9 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds, and a couple steals, while Bell electrified the stadium with an athletic put-back dunk.
Totally a pass! (@NBCSAuthentic) pic.twitter.com/SBHDg9YihN
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 28, 2017
But the Warriors only led by two, 55-53, at half after giving up a 10-point lead over the last couple minutes of the second quarter.
Golden State came out of the break hot and pushed out to an early lead. Klay Thompson traded treys with George Hill and McCaw continued his strong game, but Hill was the only bright spot for Sacramento for most of the quarter, shooting 5-for-5 for 13 points in the third quarter. The Dubs rained threes and generated takeaways with handsy defense, but once again fell flat in the last couple minutes of the frame with turnovers and sloppy offense, letting the King back in it.
The Kings capitalized on those turnovers and took a one point lead into the fourth quarter. The Warriors climbed back in it with tough shots from their veterans in West, Livingston, and Igoudala, and kept the game just out of Sacramento’s reach until the final moments. The Kings tied it at 106 left through a Willie Cauley-Stein slam with under two minutes to go.
Bogdan wins it!
— NBA (@NBA) November 28, 2017
Bogdanovic banks in the game-winning FG for the @SacramentoKings!
Final in Oakland: #SacramentoProud 110 / #Dubnation 106 pic.twitter.com/BaZgHQBP47
The Warriors failed to hold their leads all night and it proved fatal in the fourth when Bogdan Bogdanovic sank a running bank shot to take a two point lead with 12 seconds left. Klay missed a potential game winner on the next play, and the Warriors will be left feeling as if they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on Monday night.