By Jerry Feitelberg

Golden State Warriors beat writer

Without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Warriors lost their third game in a row Thursday night. The host, Sacramento Kings, pasted them 141-119. The Warriors’ defense, without Green, was non-existent. The Kings’ De’Aaron Fox, coming off a 37-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night, had a career-high 44 points to lead the Kings to an easy win over the Warriors.

The Kings shot 59% from the floor and connected on 19 threes in 38 attempts. When an NBA team puts up those offensive numbers, one can assume that the team will win.

The Warriors’ numbers weren’t that bad. They shot 51% from the floor and made 17 threes in 32 tries. They scored 119 points, and that should get a team a win. The Kings De’Aaron Fox, Ty Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Richaun Holmes could not be stopped.

The Warriors and Kings played a very competitive, fast-paced first quarter. Andrew Wiggins paced the Warrior attack, and they finished the first quarter leading 37-35. The Warriors led 47-46 after Nico Mannion made a three.

The Kings, behind De’Aaron Fox’s spectacular effort, started to pull away. The Kings won the quarter 37-24 to finish the first half leading 72-61. Fox led the Kings with 20. Haliburton had 17. Haliburton was five-for-six from downtown. Andrew Wiggins knocked down 20 for the Warriors. Nico Mannion made four threes, good for 12 points. No other Warrior was in double figures. James Wiseman did not score. Kelly Oubre tallied two. Jordan Poole had six. 

The Warriors knew they had to find a way to stop the very potent Sacramento offense. They had to come up with answers if they hoped to win the game. The Kings continued to attack the basket. Fox and company sped past the Warriors to finished the third quarter with a 20-point advantage 106-86. The Warriors Kelly Oubre played well in the quarter, but it was not enough. 

If a team trails by 20 heading into the fourth quarter in the NBA, they usually lose. The Warriors would have to outscore the Kings by 20 to tie the game. The Kings put up over thirty points in each of the first three periods. While it is possible, the Warriors couldn’t do it Thursday night.

Game Notes and Stats: The Warriors lost their third game in a row and are now 22-23 for the year. The Kings have now won five of the last six games and are now 20-25 for the season.

Curry missed the game with a bruised tailbone. Draymond Green did not feel well Thursday morning. He may be ready for Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Warriors made two trades on Thursday. They sent Brad Wanamaker to the Charlotte Hornets. Wanamaker will be a free agent at the year, and with the emergence of Jordaan Poole and Nico Mannion, he did not figure to be in the Warrior plans for the future.

In a move that surprised many Warrior fans, the team sent Marquese Chriss to the San Antonio Spurs. Chriss played well last year and figured in the Warriors plans for this season. Unfortunately for Chriss, he suffered a broken leg and was lost for the season. Rookie James Wiseman will be the Warriors’ starting center next year. Kevon Looney and Eric Paschall will be used on the second unit.

Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. Wiggins was ten-for 18 from the floor and knocked down three threes in five tries. Kelly Oubre finished with 19. Nico Mannion also had 19. Mannion was five-for eight from downtown. Jordan Poole had 17. Juan Toscano-Anderson had 15 points, six boards, and four assists. Anderson was six for six from the floor, and he made three threes in three attempts. He did not miss a shot.

De’Aaron Fox had a career-high 44 points. It was his tenth game of the year with 30 or more points. Richaun Holmes had a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton had 21, Kyle Guy 20, and Buddy Hield 16.

The Warriors return home to face the new-look Atlanta Hawks. After firing their coach, the team, under Nate McMillan’s tutelage, have won eight in a row. They cooled off a bit, but they made news as they acquired Lou Williams in a trade with the LA Clippers. Williams, a two-time winner of the NBA’s sixth man of the year award, has killed the Warriors in the past. The Warriors will have their hands full Friday night.

The game will start at 7 pm Friday at the Chase Center in San Francisco.