This is looking like one of those seasons where they get off to a poor
start but (hopefully): 1) develop some chemistry (especially
defensively) and 2) Klay regains his rhythm; by the end of the season.
The weirdness is that last season was a little like that also. -AL

===================================
Als After sluggish start, starters help Warriors wake up but fall short
to Hornets in overtime
The Warriors came alive in the third quarter after a lethargic opening
half plagued by cold shooting, shoddy defense and too many fouls.
>Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Smith Jr. (8) guards against Golden
State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half of an NBA
basketball game on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP
Photo/Scott Kinser)
By MADELINE KENNEY | mkenney@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: October 29, 2022 at 6:40 p.m. | UPDATED: October 29, 2022 at
8:09 p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/10/29/after-sluggish-start-starters-help-warriors-wake-up-but-fall-short-to-hornets-in-overtime/

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Warriors overcame a double-digit deficit after the
break and held a four-point lead with about a minute remaining, but
couldn’t hold on and fell to the Charlotte Hornets 120-113 in overtime.

Back-to-back Hornets’ baskets knotted the game up at 107 with about 23
seconds remaining.

The ball was in Stephen Curry’s hands to deliver the dagger in his
hometown. But Dennis Smith Jr. smothered Curry, who barely got a shot
off at the buzzer that was off the mark, sending the game into overtime.

The Warriors were outscored 13-6 in overtime to drop their fourth
straight game in Charlotte. Curry hasn’t won in his hometown since Feb.
25, 2019 — and won’t get another chance until next season.

“Usually get a lot of juice form coming home and the crowd… but yeah,
I’d like to have something to show for it,” Curry said. “Credit to them,
they competed and fought hard in the first half to get a 12-point lead.
And obviously we’re not out of it, but they have a certain pride ego
protecting their home court… Hopefully, we get one next year.”

All five starters finished in double-digit scoring. Curry led the way
with team highs in points (31) and rebounds (11). He also added six
assists in 39 minutes. Jordan Poole contributed 24 points off the bench
but nothing in overtime. He left the game in the final seconds with an
apparent foot injury, which Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn’t have an
update for after the game.

The Warriors came alive in the third quarter after a lethargic opening
half plagued by cold shooting, shoddy defense and too many fouls, and
kept that energy for most of the remainder of the game. But the effort
waned at the back-end of overtime.

“We were tired. We had some really poor defensive possessions not
communicating on the switches, we gave up a couple layups,” Kerr said.
“They just didn’t have much left in the tank offensively. So give credit
to Charlotte. They did a great job coming back in that final minute. We
had to close the game there and we just couldn’t get it done and they
were the aggressor in overtime.”

The Hornets, playing without LaMelo Ball (ankle), Cody Martin (quad) and
Terry Rozier (ankle), had the advantage for the entire first half and
most of the third, though the Warriors gradually chipped into it after
the break.

Jordan Poole forced a steal and turned it into a two-point basket, but
contact made with a Hornets player sent the 23-year-old crashing down
the floor. He was slow to get up and winced in pain as he held his right
shoulder.

But Poole seemed just fine on the Warriors’ next possession, knocking
down a 3-pointer to put Golden State up 80-78 for their first lead of
the game. Curry was also a key part of the third quarter surge, scoring
12 points and making two 3-pointers.

The Warriors’ defensive struggles continued against the Hornets as they
allowed Charlotte to take a 62-50 lead into the break. That more than
doubled the points the Magic scored in the first half of a blowout loss
to the Orlando Magic the night before. Both Kerr and Kevon Looney said
the cross-country travel played a factor in the slow start for Golden State.

“The first game on an East Coast road trip is always pretty tough,” said
Looney, who had 10 points and nine rebounds. “Credit to those guys, they
came out firing, they were pushing the ball, playing with a lot of pace.
Took us a while to get our legs under us and once you start to hit some
shots and get some stops, the game starts flowing better.”

The Warriors committed 14 fouls in the first half, surrendering 13
points at the foul line. Meanwhile, Golden State went to the free throw
line only eight times. By the end of the game, the Hornets had 31 free
throw attempts to the Warriors’ 16.

Two-way guard Ty Jerome provided a surprise spark off the bench in the
second quarter, scoring seven points in five minutes, as he helped cut a
12-point deficit to four.

A Poole 3-pointer pulled the Warriors within three with 6:52 remaining
in the half, but Golden State went cold. The Warriors missed seven
consecutive shots and went an abysmal 2-for-9 down the stretch as the
Hornets again pulled away.

The Warriors (3-3) will have a quick turnaround, playing the Pistons in
Detroit Sunday evening to complete their first of two sets of
back-to-backs on this five-city road trip out east.

Kerr didn’t disclose before the Hornets game whether he planned to rest
some of his starters against the Pistons, but he said that Saturday’s
game going to overtime would require him to talk to his performance
staff before determining Sunday’s availability. But both Curry and
Draymond Green said they anticipate they’ll play on Sunday.