The first injury report submitted by the Warriors on Saturday listed 11 players, five considered \u201cquestionable\u201d and six declared \u201cout.\u201d It\u2019s a cruel way to face the rampaging Atlanta Hawks, who are one of the NBA\u2019s healthiest squads.<\/p>\n
The condition of the Warriors\u2019 roster foreshadowed what was to come, as they stayed close for a half before fading after intermission and taking a 128-110 loss at State Farm Arena.<\/p>\n
The game was much more one-sided than the score indicates, as the Hawks led by as much as 28 points.<\/p>\n
This was Golden State\u2019s eighth loss in its last nine games — and seventh consecutive in Atlanta, dating back to Dec. 3, 2018.<\/a><\/p>\n Four Warriors initially listed as questionable — Draymond Green, De\u2019Anthony Melton, Quinten Post and Malevy Leons — were upgraded to available before tipoff, but none was of much help on the second night of a back-to-back road set.<\/p>\n Melton, playing a back-to-back set for the first time this season, led Golden State scorers with 20 points. Nate Williams totaled 19, while Pat Spencer finished with 18.<\/p>\n The Hawks were playing without star forward Jalen Johnson, but it didn\u2019t matter as four players scored in double figures, led by 28 points from Dyson Daniels.<\/p>\n Here are three observations from another atrocious night before the Warriors on Monday face the Mavericks in Dallas, where they have lost four straight and eight of their last nine:<\/p>\n The Warriors-Kuminga reunion<\/p>\n The much-anticipated moment of the night came with 5:25 left in the first quarter, when Jonathan Kuminga entered, tucking in his jersey and wearing a grin. The warm pregame salutations were over, and it was time to go after his former teammates.<\/p>\n Warriors coach Steve Kerr immediately countered by assigning two-way wing Williams to defend Kuminga.<\/p>\n While Kuminga was missing his first four shots and committing two turnovers, Williams made his first four shots and snagged a steal.<\/p>\n On an individual basis, Williams in this contest was more impressive than Kuminga.<\/p>\n It was a very unimpactful revenge game<\/a>, at least on an individual basis, for Kuminga. He didn\u2019t score until the fourth quarter and finished with two points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field, including 0-of-3 from distance. He contributed four rebounds and two assists, with two turnovers.<\/p>\n Kuminga played 22 minutes, finishing minus-6. If he wants to clap back at the Warriors in style, he\u2019ll have to wait until next season.<\/p>\n Third-quarter blitz dooms Warriors<\/p>\n Whatever Atlanta coach Quin Snyder told or fed his players at halftime turned them into an exceedingly ferocious bunch once they took the floor in the third quarter.<\/p>\n The Hawks opened the quarter with a 21-3 run in a little more than four minutes. They did it by turning up the defense, forcing turnovers (four in less than three minutes) and scoring on seven consecutive possessions.<\/p>\n Before the Warriors could blink, their solid first-half work — resulting in leading by as much as eight but entering intermission with a two-point deficit (63-61) — had vanished. The Hawks’ advantage grew to 20 (84-64) with 7:43 left in the quarter.<\/p>\n The Warriors were outscored 39-20 in the third frame, as well as outshot from the field (65.2 percent to 38.9) and from deep (30 percent to 16.7). Their seven turnovers, including three by Gui Santos, gifted Atlanta 15 points. And the game, as the score was 102-81 entering the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n The turnover toll<\/p>\n