https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/warriors-observations-dubs-escape-thrilling-game-4-win-vs-kings

What we learned as Dubs win wild Game 4, tie series vs. Kings

7H ago
by Dalton Johnson

SAN FRANCISCO -- There's a cliché that an NBA playoff series doesn't
begin until a team wins a road game. Let's buck that notion.

Though both teams now are perfect on their home courts through the first
four games, the Warriors made this a dogfight of a first-round NBA
playoff series by beating the Kings 126-125 on Sunday at Chase Center in
a victory that truly went down to the last seconds.

Steph Curry, though he pulled a Chris Webber in a fitting matchup at the
worst time possible, was the ultimate difference-maker once again,
scoring 32 points with five rebounds and four assists. Curry went 11 of
22 from the field and 5 of 11 on 3-pointers. This time, he had plenty of
help.

Klay Thompson (26) and Jordan Poole (22) each scored more than 20
points. Andrew Wiggins was extremely active with 18 points and eight
rebounds, and Kevon Looney came down with 14 rebounds himself. The
Warriors now are 11-2 in playoff games Wiggins has 11 or more rebounds,
and Looney has the game on lock down low right now.

The back-and-forth battle featured 19 lead changes. The difference was
one point. Each team countered each other, and the Warriors found a way
to last longer.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors' Game 4 win.

Surprise Starting Lineup

Draymond Green was back after serving his one-game suspension, but had
to wait his turn to be on the court. Steve Kerr surprised many by
sticking with the same starters as the Warriors' Game 3 win, despite
Green's return.

The group of Curry, Poole, Thompson, Wiggins and Looney played exactly
six minutes together Thursday night. They were a plus-7 in the span,
outscoring the Kings 17-10 over 15 possessions.
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It worked again, with spacing being a clear advantage for the Warriors.

Kerr's starting five played 12 minutes together and were a plus-6,
outscoring the Kings 33-27. As a group, they went 13 of 22 from the
field, 8-of-14 shooting 2-pointers and 5-of-8 shooting 3-pointers.

Draymond's Return

Prior to Sunday's matinee, Green had started 132 consecutive playoff
games. With the Warriors down 15-14, Green, and everything that he
brings, checked in at the 6:38 mark in the first quarter. Within one
minute of his return, Draymond and De'Aaron Fox were given technical fouls.

To no surprise, Green's energy level was off the charts. Channeling a
bull in a china shop, he was roaring to make things happen for his
teammates and get Dub Nation into the battle as well. Green played
12-and-a-half minutes in the first, scoring eight points with three
rebounds and three assists.

Down by four points at halftime, Kerr decided to replace Poole with
Green to start the second half. That decision also worked out perfectly
for the Warriors.

They outscored the Kings 37-23 in the third quarter, a 14-point
advantage that gave them a 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
Many of the issues that plagued the Warriors in the first two quarters
were fixed in the third. And Green was a big reason why.

Over 33 minutes off the bench, Green produced his 59th double-double in
his playoffs career. He had 12 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two
steals and one block. Green also was a plus-8 in plus/minus.

The Warriors' usual starting five was a plus-11 in 12:50 together,
outscoring the Kings 38-27.

Second-Half Switch

Not only did the Warriors have Green to open the third quarter, they
made the needed adjustments to even the series. When it comes to hustle
stats, it was a night-and-day change from one half to the other.

In the first half, the Kings attempted 13 more shots than the Warriors.
They had six more offensive rebounds (7-1) and also six more
second-chance points (9-3). That changed in the final 24 minutes of the
game.

The Warriors had four more second-chance points than the Kings in the
third quarter and three more offensive rebounds, a period that gave them
a double-digit cushion going into the fourth quarter.

The Warriors in the second half took one more shot than the Kings, had
two more offensive rebounds than the Kings but one fewer second-chance
point. The recipe for success is clear. Green is a major factor in that
category.

Now, it's up to the Warriors to make sure they can sustain this focus
and take care of the Kings in what has become a best two-out-of-three
series.