Golden State Warriors Topple San Antonio Spurs In Battle of NBA’s Best

Curry and the Warriors treated the Spurs the way they do most every team in the National Basketball Association these days.

In another busy night in the NBA Stephen Curry took the spotlight as the two best teams did battle.

The intimidation factor the Spurs once held over the Warriors was nonexistent Monday at Oracle Arena. Curry was the leading scorer for Golden State with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting with three made three-pointers.

The top seeded Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry ran the San Antonio Spurs out of the arena Monday night, defeating the Spurs 120-90 in Oakland behind Curry’s 37 points (6-9 3pt FG) and 5 steals in only 3 quarters, the most by any Spurs’ opponent this season.

San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich understood the hype for Monday’s game.

The Spurs, playing without Tim Duncan because of right knee soreness, wilted and committed a whopping season high of 26 turnovers that were turned into 32 Warriors points.

Kerr in his second game back from a leave of absence led the Warriors to a 30-point win against the San Antonio Spurs, who have the second-best record in the league.

Rest assured, though, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr insisted, the outcome was no knockout.

The Spurs failed to show up in one of the biggest games of the year offensively and defensively.

LaMarcus Aldridge was limited to just five points and three rebounds by Green. The Pelicans played the second half without All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who left late in the second quarter with a concussion after getting elbowed in the head by teammate Tyreke Evans.

It could have been worse if not for the play of Kawhi Leonard, whose solid play in the first quarter prevented San Antonio from being shot out of the gym.

By the third quarter the Warriors led the Spurs 95-66, the largest deficit San Antonio has faced yet this season.

NBA.com’s Hang Time blog, comparing team efficiency to the league average, calculated that the Warriors entered the showdown with the best offense since 1977, when the league began charting turnovers; the Spurs came in with best defense in that same time period.

The 62 points the Warriors scored were the most points the Spurs have allowed all season. “But it’s not going to be the case next time we see them”.

Curry was 12 for 20 from the field, including 6 for 9 from his personal 3-point range that stretched out to near the center court logo.

“At this point, they are better than us”, Spurs veteran guard Manu Ginobili said.

Power forward David West, starting in place of Duncan, made six of his eight shots on a 12-point night for San Antonio, which won the season series 2-1 over the champion Warriors past year.

Pint-sized point guard Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points in three quarters, and five other players finished in double figures as Boston defeated Washington 116-91.

“I don’t think people go at me as much as they used to, but I think they think they have a mismatch there”.

Patrick Beverley gave the Rockets the lead for good by hitting an open three-pointer with 1:09 left that put Houston ahead 110-109.