Warriors Dominate Third Quarter en Route to 117-99 Win Over Nets

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Last night’s primetime matchup featured the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets, a clash between two of the NBA’s titans.

In a potential finals matchup, the Warriors (12-2) proved that their hot start isn’t a fluke by riding a third-quarter blitz to propel them to a 117-99 win over the Nets (10-5).

The game unfolded as advertised in the first half, a tight bout with two early MVP candidates, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant leading their teams with 19 and 16 first-half points as the Warriors held a slim 63-58 lead at the break.

However, the second half of the game was all Warriors, sparked by a dominant third quarter reminiscent of their signature runs from their title years, outscoring the Nets 35-18 in the frame. 

Curry continued to assert his claim for a third MVP, scoring 37 points on an efficient 12-for-19 shooting in just 29 minutes. The widely-acknowledged greatest shooter in NBA history also added nine three-pointers to bring his league-leading total to 76.

Kevin Durant, who cooled off in the second half after a hot start, scoring just 3 points on 0-for-8 shooting after the break, acknowledged that we are witnessing unparalleled excellence in Curry.

“He’s a master at what he does,” Durant said. “I’ve been saying that since he came into the league. Just a crafty player that can pretty much do anything off the ball… A player like that playing at an all-star, MVP, hall of fame level, you know, you gotta respect it.”

Warriors Continue to Rack Up Wins

While Steph Curry was the star of the show, the Warriors’ precise ball movement and equal opportunity approach led to a balanced scoring attack. The supporting cast had a strong night as four of the starters scored double-digit points, and nine players contributed at least 5 points.

A noteworthy development for the Warriors has been their dominance on the defensive end. Their league-leading defense was showcased tonight as they held the Nets under 100 points despite the opposition housing two of the league’s elite scorers in Kevin Durant and James Harden. 

With Klay Thompson and 2020 second-overall pick James Wiseman both trending towards a return to the court soon, the Warriors will be at full-strength for the first time in years and look to have the roster makeup to challenge for their first championship since 2018.

Nets Look to Turn the Page 

The Nets will look to improve on this loss as they continue to navigate through their season without star guard Kyrie Irving. Despite a season-low scoring output from Durant, the team can find solace in James Harden’s performance as he led the team with 24 points.

Outside of an abysmal third quarter, the Nets played the Warriors fairly well and did not show any weaknesses that can’t be fixed as they get further into the season.

Next Up

Warriors: Visit Cleveland on Thursday.

Nets: Host Cleveland tonight.