On Monday night, the Golden State Warriors made a big debut for 2023. Kevon Looney’s game-winning putback basket in double overtime gave the Warriors a stunning 143-141 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, the team’s fifth straight victory.
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THE game-winning points. @Verizon || Reliable Moments pic.twitter.com/iHPZphnwFw
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 3, 2023
Looney finished the night with a double-double of 14 points and a massive 20 rebounds in 32 minutes of play. Although he will never get the attention he deserves for what he means to the Warriors, Looney remains invaluable as he is the ultimate team player who consistently performs whatever the team needs of him at a high level.
Looney: “Everybody dreams about getting a game-winner, so whenever you have a chance to do that and celebrate with your team, that’s a great moment.” https://t.co/TGcacGzvy3
— C.J. Holmes (@HolmesScribe) January 3, 2023
Loon shares what was going through his head on the game-winning play pic.twitter.com/mLCmdPY578
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 3, 2023
"To see Loon get rewarded with the game-winner was fantastic."
Steve Kerr talks about Looney's performance in tonight's win pic.twitter.com/HR6nhRR2Cj
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 3, 2023
Although several players on the Warriors came up big in this one, none were more important than Klay Thompson who led the team with 54 points — the fourth 50-point game of his career and first since suffering his two major leg injuries. As Dub Nation knows well, once Thompson gets going, it’s almost impossible to slow him down as he willed the team with clutch shot after clutch shot down the stretch.
Klay shares what his 54-point game means to him pic.twitter.com/hYSfkuxjyS
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 3, 2023
Overall, it was yet another gritty performance for a Golden State team that continues to fight through adversity whenever they encounter it. Whether it was the six players ruled out prior to last night’s game or the Hawks — at one point in the second half — shooting 70% from the field including 7-of-9 from deep, the Warriors kept fighting. The team is beginning to establish an identity for themselves as they continue to push through any obstacles placed in front of them.
Draymond says the Warriors are starting to build a "gritty" identity pic.twitter.com/xo9RVkuRzo
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 3, 2023
Source: https://www.goldenstateofmind.com
