SAN FRANCISCO -- In the wake of his team's best win of the season, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that his group hit a "different level" in Wednesday's 116-104 win over the Houston Rockets, while sharing a funny anecdote about just how excited his struggling squad was in the waning moments of victory.
"We got to a different level yesterday," Kerr said after Thursday's practice. "In terms of our execution on both ends. It was the best game we've played, and it was great that Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson] were on the sidelines cheering them on and so active. At one point the ref told me -- he wanted me to tell our guys not to run on the floor. And I said, 'That's not happening. We've had a lousy season. We're going to run on the floor.' I said, 'If you've got to call a T, you've got to call a T.' And he said, 'All right, fair enough.' So it was a good night."
The Warriors have now won three straight games for the first time all season, but they went into the game with a Western Conference-worst 7-24 record in a season that has been littered with injuries and inconsistencies from a young team trying to find its way. Players and coaches beamed with pride after limiting James Harden, who went into the contest averaging over 38 points a game, to just 24 points on the day.
"It was euphoric in the locker room," Kerr said. "You have to put it into context of what kind of season we've had; the frustration and the injuries and the losses piling up. Yesterday was the most fun day of the year for us because our guys know they have gotten a lot better, but for that work to pay off and to win a national TV game on Christmas Day against a great team, that's a really good accomplishment. That game was much bigger for us than it was for Houston. They're going to play in a lot of big games this year. For us that was as big as it's been and maybe as big as it will be all year, just in terms of the magnitude of the game. So in that context, our guys were really, really happy and they deserve to be happy and our fans were great. I'm happy for them, they've been supporting us all along, and so it was just a great day all around."
Warriors swingman Glenn Robinson III got the bulk of the minutes on Harden, but the Warriors made it a point to send bodies at him all day and trap whenever possible. Rockets guard Russell Westbrook went just 11-for-32 from the field as the Warriors defense held the Rockets to just 37% from the field. Harden, who went into the game averaging almost 13 free throw attempts a game, took just one Wednesday and missed it. The 38 minutes he played were the most he has played in a game in his career without making at least one free throw, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
"We were hyped up," Warriors big man Marquese Chriss said. "I think we worked hard for that win. I think we showed that we're continually growing and we're developing as a team and individually. We're showing that we can guard and we can finish games now, so we're just trying to keep competing."
What made the win even more special for the Warriors was the fact that it came against a Rockets team that they have dominated throughout the last few seasons. Injured Warriors stars Curry (broken hand) and Thompson (left ACL rehab) happily yelled in celebration of what their teammates accomplished. The Warriors went into the game as 11.5 underdogs, the biggest margin of a Christmas upset over the last 30 years, according to Caesars Sportsbook.
"It was fun," Chriss said. "It sucks to see people hurt, but they were up there, they were cheering for us and they were supporting us, and I think that that really helped drive us, having people who care about us unconditionally. It gave us a reason to want to keep fighting."
Chriss noted that Curry, who recently rejoined the team after having a second, scheduled procedure to take pins out of his injured left hand in Los Angeles, has given a boost to the rest of the group just by being around.
"His energy," Chriss said. "He's a goofy guy, but at the same time he's super competitive. And he's quiet, but he's honest. He'll tell you how it is, but he's not one of those people who's just going to keep yelling and try to beat a dead horse. It's better for us the last few games that he's been here and been on the bench. He's kind of like an extra coach."
Warriors players and coaches are appreciative of the fact that both Curry and Thompson are starting to be around on a more consistent basis to offer support and advice. For Chriss, the ability to watch and learn from Curry has been beneficial.
"He talks to everybody," Chriss said. "It's weird for me -- somebody being so good, you expect them to have an ego and kind of keep to themselves, but he talks to everybody like they're on the same level as him. I think that it makes for a good culture around here."