Recap: Kings beat shorthanded Warriors 98-93

The Golden State Warriors were missing 72.6 points per game with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson all out with injuries. They weren’t supposed to be able to score the ball.

For the most part, that was true, but no one told Quinn Cook.

Cook has the starting point guard position with Curry injured, and against the Sacramento Kings his impression was spot on. In the first half alone, Cook erupted for 18 points on perfect 7-7 shooting, including 4-4 from beyond the arc.

He couldn’t miss.

It sparked an offensive spurt that no one saw coming, and the Warriors managed a whopping 36 points in the first quarter alone.

But the Kings were game and stayed with the Dubs nearly all the way. And unfortunately, there was bad news in the first half as well, as the injury bug struck . . . AGAIN. This time it was Omri Casspi, who left the game in a lot of pain after rolling his ankle.

Unfortunately, the offensive mastery in the first half found the exits during halftime. Golden State could not find the basket to save their soul in the third quarter, though they managed to keep Sacramento from finding it either. Things got ugly, as one would expect when a lottery team faced a ridiculously injured team.

But the fourth quarter brought more excitement again, once more led by the game young point guard Cook, who ended with a career high 25 points on 10-13. But the Warriors simply couldn’t put the Kings away, and the young Sacramento squad hung within striking distance until . . . well . . . striking time.

With just under a minute left, Kings rookie De’Aaron Fox made a floater to give Sacramento a three-point lead. Draymond Green, who finished with a Draymondian 14 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks, was unfazed, and came right down the court with a big three.

After Buddy Hield split a pair of free throws to give the Kings a one-point lead, it was the Warriors game to win or lose. Unfortunately, Green was a little too excited after his first three, and chucked up a horrible shot that wasn’t close.

The Warriors had a chance to tie it again when Nick Young got what looked like a clean three in the final seconds, but it was blocked. And that was the game.

Missing three All-Stars is always a decent excuse, but this Warriors team still should have beaten a Kings unit that has no incentive to win and is headed firmly for the lottery.

So much for that.