LOS ANGELES — Three-point shooting has become almost synonymous with the Golden State Warriors over the last decade.
With two of the most prolific perimeter shooters in NBA history, it’s part of their game plan every night. But it doesn’t always work. Against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, though, it was their calling card in a 134-120 victory.
The Warriors shot 63.4% from 3 on 26-of-41 shooting, the best 3-point field goal percentage in a game in NBA history (minimum 40 attempts), according to ESPN Stats & Information research. To put in perspective, there have been more than 3,400 instances of a team taking at least 40 3-pointers in a game.
“That was the game, basically,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We made a million 3s … everybody got going. To shoot 63% from 3, that’s crazy. We always try to shoot the lights out, but it doesn’t always happen.”
The most eye-catching shooter was Draymond Green, who went 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and finished with 15 points. Stephen Curry shot a perfect 6-for-6 from 3 and Klay Thompson went 5-of-10, while Andrew Wiggins and Brandin Podziemski both hit three and Gary Payton II added two.
It’s just the second time that Green, Curry and Thompson all hit 5 3s in the same game.
The Lakers have long been a team to sag off of Green. He said they are the most “egregious” in the league at that game plan. According to Second Spectrum, 4 of Green’s made 3s were wide-open, meaning the closest defender was at least 6 feet away. That is tied for his most in a game this season.
With no Anthony Davis, the Lakers not only gave Green space but missed their assignment on Curry several times, leaving him wide-open.
“It was our game plan for those guys to make 3s tonight, to let them shoot, kind of. It was our game plan and they did it. So, we can’t do anything about it,” Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said.
“It’s different with AD out there,” Green said. “He covers up so many mistakes, so it’s totally a different look when he’s not on the court.”
With the win Tuesday, the Warriors are currently just a half-game behind the Lakers for the ninth seed. The Warriors also own the tiebreaker and an extra game on L.A., so if they win out, they’ll be ahead of the Lakers.
Golden State is also just one game behind the Sacramento Kings, who are in eighth. But, because they don’t have the tiebreaker, the Warriors will need the Kings to lose at least two more games, which, because of Sacramento’s current breakdowns, is very possible.
Draymond Green was 5-of-7 from beyond the arc Tuesday night, marking just the second time that he, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson all hit 5 3s in the same game. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
“The biggest difference (between the 8- and 9-seed) is you get an extra game to win two, which is a big deal,” Green said. “If we can get the 8, that’s incredible. You would love two swings, two bites of the apple.”‘
Fighting for seeding in the play-in tournament is a far departure from what Golden State is used to over the last 10 years.
“We are not the team of old,” Curry said. “No matter how next week plays out, it’s tough to compare it to years of past when we’re getting announcements, ‘Oh we clinched a top spot,’ but at least you have something to play for.”
But the Warriors are trying to embrace this new reality. They don’t see their seeding as the defining part of their identity. Instead, it’s more what they do with it.
“We take a lot of motivation from the Heat last year who had to play two play-in games and made it all the way to the Finals,” Thompson said. “I think we’re capable of a run like that. We obviously can’t look ahead, but whatever happens, we will be ready. We know that it can be done. There is no task too tall for us.”