|
 The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player bombed in five three-pointers
as the Warriors (41-4) shot 11-for-26 from beyond the arc in the
first meeting of the top two teams in the West this season.
Golden State's 39th consecutive home victory -- their 21st this
season -- gave it a three-game lead over San Antonio (38-7) in their
duel for top seeding in the Western playoffs.
The loss snapped a 13-game winning streak for the Spurs, who had an
18-point average margin of victory during that run. They played
without star power forward Tim Duncan, who was resting an ailing
right knee.
Curry, who hit 12 of his 20 shots overall, also had four assists and
five steals in 29 minutes for the Warriors, whose last home loss
(Nov. 11, 2014) came at the hands of the Spurs.
In fact, San Antonio had prevailed in 23 of its previous 26 visits
to Oakland before falling behind by seven in the fifth minute of the
game and by as many as 19 in the second period.
Curry set the tone early, connecting on three three-pointers in a
15-point first period during which the Spurs fell behind despite
playing their most competitive ball of the night.
But when backup guard Shaun Livingston got into the act with five
consecutive hoops in the second period, including dunks off assists
from Curry, power forward Draymond Green and reserve Andre Iguodala,
the game got away from the Spurs for good.
NOTHING EASY
Curry crushed the Spurs with three more three-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.
[to top of second column] |
Curry added 18 points to his total in the quarter while nearly
outscoring San Antonio (19) single-handedly.
"There was nothing easy about it," Curry told reporters. "Obviously,
the score was in our favor, but we had to work for everything."
Livingston tallied 13 points for the Warriors, who won their fourth
straight game. Fellow backups Brandon Rush and Marreese Speights
also finished with 13 points.
Green had 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 27 minutes,
and shooting guard Klay Thompson was a sixth Warrior in double
figures with 11 points.
The Warriors shot 51.8 percent from the field, compared to San
Antonio's 41.9 percent.
Small forward Kawhi Leonard hit seven consecutive free throws in a
16-point outing for the Spurs, whose six previous losses had come by
a total of just 33 points.
"At this point, they are better than us," Spurs veteran guard Manu
Ginobili said. "I'm not embarrassed to face it."
(Editing by John O'Brien)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
