Warriors fight back, beat Bucks 121-112

The Warriors have been vocal about their displeasure with Milwaukee, not so much because that’s where the streak was vanquished, but because they felt the degree to which the Bucks gloated seemed gratuitous.

Golden State exacted revenge for Milwaukee’s 108-95 win last Saturday – the Warriors only loss of the season to date – but they had to scratch and claw for a 121-112 win Friday night at Oracle Arena.

However, the Warriors charged back on the back of Draymond Green, and they finished the job with clutch play after clutch play down the stretch. “Winning is great, but there’s a way to win”. We were kind of laughing at some of the stuff going on.

The Bucks have been painfully bad throughout the first 30 percent of this season, but there can be little disputing that they put in an outstanding performance in adding the first blemish to Golden State’s previously 24-0 start. Klay Thompson continued his hot streak with 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting. It was the most points the Warriors had surrendered in any half this season.

The Bucks have lost the first two games of their Western road trip, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday and dropping a 103-90 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday. “They (the Bucks) came out and wanted a piece of the champs, and we weren’t fighting back”. Green was clearly disturbed by the mostly verbal run-in, later insisting, “No man is going to touch my head”. Through 31 minutes, he knocked down 15 of his 22 shot attempts-including eight three-pointers-and totaled a season-high 43 points.

“The fight was there and the intent was right”, coach Jason Kidd said.

The Golden State Warriors are thought by many to have a fighting chance to match the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ 72-win mark as they continue to roll through opponents. On the other hand, if somehow the impossible was to repeat itself and the Bucks were to get the better of Golden State again, the only ones left with egg on their faces will be the arrogant Warriors. “He made some insane shots, was attacking the rim and getting to the basket and playing efficiently”.

So it comes as no surprise that the Warriors have processed the sting of recent defeat and visions of that fairly tame Michael Carter-Williams celebration into pure, seething spite. They are just 1-4 in their last five games, with the one win coming against the Warriors.

Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson celebrates a score against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. “We know when we get stops and push the ball, they couldn’t keep up”.

Four Bucks players – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams, Khris Middleton and Jabari Parker – scored in double figures by halftime.

The Warriors are 19 point favorites heading into tonight’s game against the Bucks. The over/under line is set at 209.5 total points according to BetOnline.

In New York, Dwyane Wade scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, and Hassan Whiteside had 20 points and 13 rebounds to help Miami beat Brooklyn.