Dub Hub, Daily Warriors Links for 3/6/23: Warriors’ road record falls to 7-24 after losing to the Lakers

Good Morning Dub Nation,

The Golden State Warriors continued a pattern that has become all too painfully familiar for Bay Area fans this season. After finishing a terrific homestretch with an undefeated 5-0 record, the Warriors began their three-game road trip on Sunday with a 113-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Another slow start for Golden State proved to be too much for the team to overcome as their latest defeat gives then a road record of 7-24 this season — a stark contrast to their 27-7 record when playing at the Chase Center.

The most positive thing coming out of Sunday’s game was the return of Stephen Curry. The Warriors superstar point guard looked fine and didn’t seem to be hindered by the lower leg injury which cost him the previous 11 games. Aside from shaking off some rust at the beginning of the game, Curry played well finishing the day with 27 points, six assists, and two rebounds in 32 minutes of action. He especially had it going in the fourth quarter where he scored 19 points including three of his five made three-pointers. Curry spoke about how it felt to be back on the court after the game.

Meanwhile, Warriors power forward Draymond Green injured his left hand in the first quarter and briefly left the game to get x-rays which would later come back negative. Green returned shortly thereafter and looked like his usual self as he continued to play through it. During his postgame interview, he downplayed the significance of the injury, calling it sore but also mentions that nobody in the league is considered healthy at this point in the season.

One storyline to follow in the next couple of days will be the status of two-way player Anthony Lamb. League rules permit players on two-way contracts to play a maximum of 50 games before a team must decide if they want to convert their contract and add them to the official roster. Lamb has strung together a couple of solid performances recently, compelling Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to let it be known that he would like to see him added to the official roster.

Although Sunday’s loss was disappointing, the Warriors played well and left the game with all their key players relatively healthy. With Curry getting back into rhythm and the hopeful returns of Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II before the end of the regular season, the fifth place Warriors at a record of 34-31 have reasons to be optimistic moving forward.

Here are the rest of today’s stories:

In case you missed it from Golden State of Mind:

• Jordan Poole and the disconnect between three-point volume and efficiency
• Warriors unable to keep up with Anthony Davis in 113-105 loss to Lakers
• Appreciating Klay Thompson filling in the superstar shoes
• Klay Thompson scores 27 as Warriors keep rolling in 108-99 win over Pelicans
• Player grades: Warriors vs. Pelicans

Other Warriors News:

• Curry returns for Warriors, ‘got stronger as the game went on’ (ESPN)
• The suddenly surging Warriors complete 5-0 homestand just before Steph Curry’s return (The Athletic)
• Draymond Green fighting through hand injury pain; X-rays negative (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Steph Curry 3-pointer deemed good by Warriors bench before he shot it (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• Warriors yet to contact Anthony Lamb rape accuser, attorney says (San Francisco Examiner)

NBA News:

• Amick: Unwelcome spotlight is on Ja Morant — again. Can any good come from this? (The Athletic)
• Taylor Jenkins: No timetable for Ja Morant’s return to Grizzlies (ESPN)
• Luka Doncic, Devin Booker exchange words as Suns top Mavs (ESPN)
• Explain One Play: How the Heat, Kevin Love came up empty (Basketball News)
• Report: Adam Silver in mix to replace Bob Iger as Disney CEO (Ahn Fire Digital)