Eric Paschall scores 25 points as Warriors hold off Bulls
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Another healthy body sure helped the Golden State Warriors, especially when that guy coming back was Draymond Green — an emotional, vocal leader of this young group who brings it on both ends.
Eric Paschall scored 25 points and the Warriors emphatically closed out a tight game after their failure two days earlier, holding off the Chicago Bulls 104-90 on Wednesday night for just their second win at new Chase Center.
“Having Draymond back was a big deal. He settled us down,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Having nine instead of eight, it matters. You just have more to work with and more options.”
The latest injury news for the Warriors involved their coach. Kerr cut his right hand breaking a clipboard. It happens at least once a season.
"It's a mere flesh wound. I broke a clipboard. It's one of two. I'm allotted two a year. This was No. 1,” Kerr said. “It always cuts in the same place. This was a little deeper one, I was a little more upset. I'm day to day. No stitches yet but we'll see tomorrow."
Blood on the clipboard told players their coach was hurt.
“He’s writing a play up and he’s actively wiping blood up off the clipboard,” Omari Spellman said.
Alec Burks added 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in just the second win in 12 games for Golden State, which squandered a late lead Monday night in losing 100-97 to Oklahoma City while allowing the Thunder to score the game’s final 13 points. The Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak.
Green returned from a three-game absence because of a sore right heel and contributed seven points, eight assists and five rebounds in nearly 24 minutes.
Zach LaVine had 36 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Bulls, who now will try to avenge a 117-94 home loss to the Trail Blazers on Monday night when they travel to Portland to play Friday.
Golden State struggled to take care of the ball or make stops down the stretch against Oklahoma City, then worked to be the aggressor in this game. The Warriors jumped in the passing lanes on defense to create transition baskets and plays like Paschall’s timely dunk that put his team ahead 88-83 with 5:17 remaining.
The Bulls shot 16 for 44 in the first half to trail 53-48 at the break. Spellman wound up with 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench for his fifth career double-double and first with the Warriors.
“I’m just happy to bring the energy for this team,” he said.
Bulls forward Chandler Hutchison, sidelined for two games last week with soreness in his shins, was in the starting lineup but played only two minutes, not a great sign one game after he came back to score six points and grab three rebounds in seven minutes late in the loss to Portland.
TIP-INS
Bulls: F Luke Kornet played 10 minutes in his return from an eight-game absence following sinus surgery. ... G Ryan Arcidiacono played after he was a game-time decision with a sprained right elbow. ... The Bulls are now 1-1 on the road vs. the Western Conference. ... G Otto Porter Jr. missed his 10th consecutive game with a bone bruise in his left foot. ... Chicago has been swept in the past two season series vs. Golden State.
Warriors: Paschall had his sixth 20-point performance, third-most among rookies. ... Golden State’s rebounding advantage finished at 54-42. ... D'Angelo Russell missed his sixth game in a row with a sprained right thumb but is expected to travel on the team’s upcoming road trip and will be re-evaluated Saturday. ... G Jacob Evans III (left adductor strain) is scheduled to be re-evaluated Tuesday. ... Golden State has won five straight against the Bulls and five in a row at home in the Bay Area. ... The Warriors are 2-7 at home.
SIDELINE KLAY
Klay Thompson is sidelined recovering from knee surgery and got to work the sideline. The Splash Brother served as a sideline reporter in the second quarter from a table off the end of Golden State’s bench, a new gig for the All-Star guard.
General manager Bob Myers, using the foam roller on a mat in the weight room, inquired to Thompson when he entered the locker room.
“Hey Klay, you ready for sideline tonight?”
Thompson: “Yeah, I’m dropping knowledge.”
Before his stint began, he took time to sign a quick autograph, then sat down and settled in as if in his element — sporting a big grin.
He even spontaneously took over some of the postgame work interviewing Spellman, who said, “Klay’s hilarious, it was hard not to laugh.”
Thompson had surgery July 2 for a torn ACL in his left knee that he injured in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, when the Toronto Raptors won to clinch the franchise’s first championship.
3-POINT STAT
The Warriors went 11 for 29 from 3-point range to the Bulls’ 10 of 29.
QUOTEABLE
Bulls coach Jim Boylen on the Warriors: "The names maybe have changed but their spirit, their soul and the way they play, the way they compete I don't think has changed at all. So give them a lot of credit for that."
UP NEXT
Bulls: At Trail Blazers on Friday to conclude the season series spanning just five days. The Bulls have lost the last six meetings, including two in a row at Portland.
Warriors: At Miami on Friday to begin a five-game East Coast road trip that will wrap up a stretch with nine of 11 games away from Chase Center.