San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors
The two teams are coming into Monday night playing well. While Monday’s 9:30 game in Oakland, Calif., is a matchup made in hoops heaven, it’s important to remember that it’s only the first of four meetings between the teams this season.
Warriors: Curry has 30-plus points in seven of his last nine games….
In the end, it’s just one game. This is considered the biggest game in the Western Conference so far in the regular season.
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. The ultimate bragging rights will belong to the Team that wins it all.
Golden State shot 51.8 percent overall and 11-of-26 from three against the best defense in the league.
The Warriors will look to get revenge on the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
Curry crushed the Spurs with three more 3-pointers in the third period, during which the Warriors ran up a 95-66 lead to set the stage for an inconsequential final 12 minutes.
The Warriors are a below-average team in regard to turnover rate and free throw rate.
It was the worst loss for San Antonio since a 137-97 rout at the hands of Portland in February 2012. In fact, the Spurs have led the league in offensive efficiency since December 1.
“I just for some reason play well against these guys”, said Thomas, who averages 23 points against the Wizards. “He’s probably the best two-way player in the league now”. The Warriors were too comfortable and confident. San Antonio also leads the National Basketball Association in field goal percentage this season. They’ve allowed the fewest corner 3-point attempts. The Warriors have a point differential of 11.5 in the same stretch.
You can say you’re the National Basketball Association champions, but you can’t say you’re the best team in the world until you start reversing those numbers against a franchise that has beaten you so soundly, even in the Joe Lacob/Peter Guber ownership era.
That much was clear in the demeanor of Stephen Curry as he went after the San Antonio Spurs as though they stole something. That’s why they have essentially stopped doing it this season.
“He has ridiculous shooting range, and it distorts the whole chessboard”, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. Behind the play ofDraymond Green and Shaun Livingston, the Warriors were able to not just keep the lead but extend it with their best player not on the court.
Round 1 goes to the champs. Golden State (40-4) began the season 24-0, while San Antonio (38-6) is still right on the Warriors’ tail.
If they play Green next to another big man, Aldridge will be asked to play center full time – something he’s always been apprehensive about doing – against two physical players in Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli.
Curry set the tone early, connecting on three 3-pointers in a 15-point first period during which the Spurs fell behind despite playing their most competitive ball of the night.
The Warriors are 20-0 at Oracle Arena this season.
“Every time we have an opportunity to prove who we are and continue another step in the journey, we’re ready for it”, Curry said.
And, most certain, Curry is not the same player they once could bottle up and frustrate and induce into poor shooting nights.