Draymond Green says suspension allowed Warriors to 'explore', sparked run - ESPN

SALT LAKE CITY — The Golden State Warriors are finding some momentum.

They are above .500 (26-25) for the first time since Dec. 23. They have won five games in a row, matching their longest streak of the season. They've also won three straight road games by at least 20 points for the second time in franchise history.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry is the first to admit that the team hasn't «done anything yet,» as they sit just 1 1/2 games above the Utah Jazz — who they beat 129-107 Monday night — for the 10th seed in the Western Conference. However, pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together.

They've remained optimistic through their turbulent three-quarters of the season, but this is the first time since their 6-1 start that there is something for Golden State to show for it.

Has there been a tangible inflection point for the Warriors?

«I think me getting suspended helped in a weird way,» forward Draymond Green said after Monday's game. "… Not that I wanted to get suspended, but I do think that helped us find different things we can go to and explore."

Green served an indefinite suspension that ended up costing him 16 games for punching Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head just weeks after serving a five-game suspension for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Ruby Gobert in a chokehold.

«We have been doing it a certain way for so long, there's a lot of comfort in our patterns and rotations. When you get shocked a little, it's how you respond,» Curry said. "[Draymond's suspension] did force us to try new things and get extremely uncomfortable at times, and still not lose confidence."

Green's suspension thrust third-year forward Jonathan Kuminga into the starting lineup, a position that he hasn't