Curry scores 36 points, Warriors beat Kings 114-97 without Green

Stephen Curry scored 36 points, Kevon Looney matched his careerhigh with 20 rebounds to go with nine assists, and the Golden StateWarriors got right back in their first-round playoff series bythumping the Sacramento Kings 114-97 in Game 3 on Thursday night topull within 2-1.

As suspended star Draymond Green watched from home, thedefending champions dominated without him as they have done so manytimes before. The fiery forward was suspended without pay forstepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis in the fourth quarter ofMonday's Game 2 at Golden 1 Center. The Warriors also were withoutkey defensive stopper Gary Payton II after the guard became illWednesday.

Curry shot 12 for 25 with six 3s while Andrew Wiggins added 20points and seven rebounds for the Warriors, who never trailed andwill now try to even the best-of-seven series in Game 4 on Sundayback on their home court at Chase Center.

Sabonis, who grabbed Green's foot during the play in question,was booed at every chance. The big man underwent tests thatrevealed a bruised sternum but was able to practice Wednesday andcleared to play. He had 14 rebounds by halftime and 16 total to gowith 15 points. But Golden State's smothering interior defense ledto some spectacular plays on offense.

De’Aaron Fox was 5 for 14 in the first half for 12 points butfinished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for theKings. Fox scored 62 in the first two games.

Jordan Poole — playing on a tender left ankle — started inGreen’s place and had 16 points and five rebounds, while theWarriors also counted on contributions from Jonathan Kuminga, MosesMoody and Donte DiVincenzo.

Looney, who led the NBA in offensive rebounds and played in his218th straight game, corralled a key board from the offensive glassthat led to Curry's 3 to beat the halftime buzzer and make it adouble-digit Warriors lead at 53-41.

Harrison Barnes added 17 points against his old team forSacramento, whose fans were told to leave those noisy cowbells athome because they're banned at Chase Center. Warriors fans wereraucous in their own right sporting yellow “Gold Blooded” t-shirtsand pounding Thunderstix.

Leading into Game 3, Golden State coach Steve Kerr shared withthe team his favorite John Wooden quote of all time: “Be quick, butdon’t hurry.” That’s a mantra he challenged the Warriors to use totake better shots and be more careful with the ball to limitturnovers.

He felt the Warriors had been in a hurry and committing unforcedturnovers, rushed to make a play.

They seemed like their old selves in this one.

NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown, who received a shipment of newVans sneakers, warned of what might happen if his team let downeven in the slightest: “If we’re overconfident we’re going to getour behinds handed to us because these guys are champions.”

Curry and Co. made sure of that.

E-40 IS BACK

Rapper E-40 returned courtside for Game 3 fashionably late andfashionable.

The hip-hop star whose real name is Earl Stevens alleged “racialbias” after being kicked out of Game 1 at Sacramento's Golden 1Center. He and the Kings put out a joint statement Wednesdayexplaining there was a ‘miscommunication’ and said it was an“unfortunate misunderstanding” between both parties.

“We're OK, can't complain,” he said Thursday of being satisfiedwith the Kings' response.

Curry and E-40 shared a celebratory embrace shortly after thefinal buzzer as Curry made his way to the tunnel.

TIP-INS

Kings: The Kings were outrebounded 60-53. ... Sacramento shot 11for 46 on 3s. ... The Kings made it to the free-throw line justeight times in the initial two quarters and 23 for the game.

Warriors: Wiggins had a memorable second-quarter sequence with ablock then 3-pointer moments later. ... Moody had a three-pointplay and dunk over a sizzling 38-second stretch late in the thirdputting Golden State up 76-63 and finished with 13 points. ... In aquiet outing, Klay Thompson had 13 points on 5-for-15 shooting buthit two timely shots down the stretch.