Warriors Cruise Through Spurs 112-101 in Battle of NBA’s Best

by, Travis Atkinson

The Golden State Warriors proved once again why they are the defending NBA Champions Thursday night, easily beating the San Antonio Spurs 112-101 to become just the second team in NBA history to reach the 70 win plateau.

Stephen Curry led the way with a game high 27 points, and the Warriors moved a few steps closer to setting NBA History as they chase the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls for the best regular season record in league history. With only three games remaining, Golden State will have to win out in order to eclipse the Bulls mark of 72-10.

San Antonio began Thursday night’s game well. The Spurs controlled the pace early; limiting the Warriors open looks from the field and holding Curry to just 4 points on 2-6 shooting in the opening period. Golden State had only 20 first-quarter points, and the Spurs trailed by five to end the quarter. It looked to be shaping into a highly contested match-up.

The Warriors shifted gears in the second though, opening the quarter with a 16-6 run that put them up 36-21. San Antonio made runs to cut the lead, but each time Golden State answered and maintained a 12-point lead at halftime.

Golden State exploded in the third quarter behind the play of its MVP point guard. Curry had 15 points and 4 assists in the period, and Golden State outscored the Spurs 35-29. The Warriors opened up a 23-point lead midway through the quarter that they would carry into the final period.

Curry was asked after the game about how the Warriors were able to disrupt San Antonio’s control of the pace in the 1st quarter. “Let the game come to us really,” Curry said. “Eventually if we get stops and take care of the ball we can open the game up and that’s what we did.”

San Antonio wouldn’t quit though. After going on several runs of their own, the Spurs gradually chipped the lead to 13 with 8:40 to go in the final quarter. It looked like San Antonio was poised to make this a game. But as was the case tonight, just when the Spurs were in position to get back in it the Warriors responded to put the game out of reach.

Harrison Barnes had 21 points (8-13) and 8 rebounds, while Draymon Green added 18 points (7-12), 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in a dominant performance from Golden State all around. Barnes and Green capitalized from the excellent ball moment of the Warriors tonight. Golden State’s interior passing led to some easy looks right at the basket.

“We were just focused on energy and making the simple play,” Curry said when asked about the teams performance tonight. “Making the simple pass that’s open, the simple cut that’s open.”

While Golden State’s offense was clicking, San Antonio’s offense struggled for most of the night. Kawhi Leonard and his 23 points (8-12) were the only bright spots for the Spurs in what was a mostly mediocre performance.

Lamarcus Aldridge had 11 points (5-16) and 3 rebounds in a disappointing performance that was a far cry from his outing when the teams last met. Aldridge suffered a dislocated pinkie in the 1st quarter that required him to leave for a few minutes. Though Aldridge returned to the game, he did not shoot well after and wasn’t much of a factor at all. Whether it was Aldridge’s pinkie or Andrew Bogut and the Warriors defense, Aldridge did not look comfortable down low and was never able to establish himself. With Aldridge playing poorly and Boris Diaw out of the lineup, San Antonio was limited in low-post options.

Golden State’s victory clinches’ home court throughout the playoffs for the Warriors, and drops San Antonio to 65-13 on the season. The Spurs will look to exact revenge on Golden State and go perfect at home on the season April 10th when they play the Warriors in San Antonio.