’Numerous guys had been in tears because the ball was being tipped’
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SAN FRANCISCO — With a number of of his gamers overcome by feelings simply moments earlier than tip-off after celebrating the assistant coach they dearly miss, Steve Kerr caught to his message: “Attempt to lose your self within the sport.”
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Stephen Curry had 25 factors and eight assists, Klay Thompson scored 24, and the Golden State Warriors gained Wednesday night time of their first sport again after the loss of life of assistant coach Dejan Milojević final week, beating the Atlanta Hawks 134-112.
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“It was not straightforward however I assumed our guys did a very good job of making an attempt to make that transition and settle into the sport,” Kerr stated. “It was very emotional. Numerous guys had been in tears because the ball was being tipped.”
The Splash Brothers shined taking part in for his or her beloved “brate” — the phrase for brother in Serbian that Milojević so lovingly used for the entire Warriors. Kuminga made all 11 of his pictures on the way in which to 25 factors as seven Warriors scored in double figures. He matched Corridor of Famer Chris Mullin’s franchise file for many pictures made with no miss.
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“It’s been a tricky week,” Kuminga stated. “Clearly we sort of regroup with every part that was occurring and went on the market and simply get pleasure from and simply have enjoyable and do what Deki would need us to do.”
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In an emotional pregame ceremony, the 2 groups stood united on one sideline close to their crew benches and listened because the Serbian nationwide anthem performed in his honor. Every Warrior participant then positioned an additional jersey with Milojević’s title on the again worn throughout warmups on one of many teaching chairs, which additionally featured a particular black T-shirt with the phrase “BRATE” draped over the seat.
“There’s nonetheless a very large gap in our crew,” Thompson stated.
Milojević suffered a coronary heart assault final Tuesday night time at a crew dinner in Salt Lake Metropolis and died the subsequent day. Two injured Warriors, Chris Paul and Gary Payton II, wore their jerseys with Milojević on the again all sport.
A tribute video performed on the massive display and pictures throughout Chase Heart confirmed a beaming “Deki,” as they so fondly referred to as him. Kerr referred to as for the sellout crowd — the Warriors’ franchise-record five hundredth consecutive — to have fun the enjoyment Milojević exuded daily with a standing ovation in lieu of a second of silence.
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Two members of the Hawks had been proper subsequent to Kerr because the Warriors coach spoke of Milojević’s profound influence on each individual he encountered. Atlanta guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is a local of Belgrade who performed for Milojević’s former Partizan crew. Hawks assistant coach Igor Kokoskov was the Serbian nationwide crew coach and employed Milojević onto his workers.
“There’s such a robust Serbian connection on this league,” Kerr stated.
Bogdanovic scored 17 factors with 4 3-pointers, whereas Dejounte Murray led the way in which with 23 factors within the Hawks’ third straight loss.
“This sport had significance past the sport,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder stated.
Dario Saric is the one who turned the help individual for Milojević’s household this previous week and he imagines he might be pondering of Deki daily for the foreseeable future — the coach performed a key position in Saric coming to the Warriors.
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“He had such an ideal influence on me in a brief time period,” Saric stated. “He was like my older brother.”
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Curry and Thompson shot a mixed 10 for 18 from deep because the Warriors completed 48.5% with 16 made 3-pointers. Curry, Thompson and Draymond Inexperienced notched their four-hundredth regular-season victory collectively.
“That’s very particular,” Thompson stated. “Any time I’m on the court docket with these two I’m very grateful.”
The Warriors went eight days in between video games, the primary crew to go eight or extra days with out taking part in within the common season not together with the All-Star break or the stoppage for the pandemic in March 2020 was the 2020-21 Spurs with 9 days from Feb. 14-24, 2021, in accordance with Elias.
It additionally marked the longest stretch with out taking part in through the season in Warriors franchise historical past.
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UP NEXT
Hawks: Host the Mavericks on Friday night time.
Warriors: Host the Kings on Thursday night time to finish a home-home back-to-back.
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