NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: NUGGETS VS WARRIORS

April 27, 2022

Gary Payton

Golden State Warriors

Game 5: Postgame

Golden State Warriors 102, Denver Nuggets 98

Q. When you are on the bench and watching this game unfold in the first quarter, looked like the Nuggets were coming after you guys playing with a lot of conviction. What's your mindset when you take the court in a game like this?

GARY PAYTON II: I just come in and take the head of the snake of that second unit which was with Bones and Boogie, and they were in that second unit.

So just went in to try to slow their offense down and get stops and get my hands on balls and deflections and whatnot to second-guess, make them second-guess.

Q. We've talked a lot about just over the series about what it means to be in the playoffs. What does it mean for Steve to keep you in for the fourth quarter and to contribute in such a big way tonight?

GARY PAYTON II: Just gives me confidence that he trusts me out there in big minutes, big moments to make plays and help my team get stops and go the other way and you make plays. You know, it's really fun just to be out there, you know, crunch time, just with everybody and getting it done.

Q. You tracked down your dad courtside as the final buzzer was sounding. What made you want to talk to him and what was the conversation?

GARY PAYTON II: I just wanted to say what's up to him. I didn't say what's up to him before the game. I just had to go say what's up before he left. Nothing special.

Q. He said after the game that he was getting mad because you were turning down a bunch of open looks earlier in the game. Did you see open looks and what made you confident to take those with the game on the line late?

GARY PAYTON II: Yeah, I did. But I have guys like Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole and Steph Curry on my team and on the floor at the time. So I just tried to give up a good shot for a great shot.

And Gary has been bad at me since high school, passing up shots. He'll be all right.

Q. Steve said you are unfazed, especially in big moments. What are the things you draw from in your career to give that you confidence in any type of moment?

GARY PAYTON II: It's just basketball. You know, we are just playing basketball and I'm going to go out there and play the right way, try to play the smartest way and I know the confidence in my game and my IQ, big moments, it's just basketball, come in and get stops and go the other way and make plays.

So it's really not like a jitter or nervousness, nothing. Just playing basketball with great players.

Q. How much did the defense, not just you, but the whole team in the fourth quarter seem to turn it up a notch? They only scored six points in the first eight minutes?

GARY PAYTON II: That guy right there that came just came in, sat down, he's our leader. Get us going and I follow his lead absolutely no questions asked and everybody else seems to follow, too. We know what time it is when Dray looks in and gets ready. We know what time and we follow him. That's our leader and we follow.

Q. Along those lines, Steve said Draymond is made for these moments. The regular season is one thing, but tomorrow he can give his body a break and go out and do it again. Have you seen it from him in this series?

GARY PAYTON II: I've seen it in the last ten years of his career. He's hanged banners. He knows what it takes. He knows what needs to be done. He knows how to take care of his body and come mentally prepared. We're all just, like I said, he's teaching us how to be mentally prepared and go into games and know how -- the importance of games, and that's it.

Q. Steph scored 11 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, you could feel the gravity in the fourth quarter, especially at home in a close-out game like that. What was that like sharing the floor with him right there?

GARY PAYTON II: I was a witness. Really, I was a witness letting him cook. Create plays for him. Try to get him open looks and after that, you know what he does.

Q. Are you surprised late they hit a couple threes or laid so far off you? Are you surprised?

GARY PAYTON II: That has nothing to do with me. If I'm open and teammates find me, they told me to shoot it with confidence, so I'm going to shoot it. If I don't shoot it, it hurts our team. So if that's what they want to do, we are going to adjust accordingly.