Warriors 118-112 Spurs (25 Nov, 2023) Game Recap،
SAN FRANCISCO – – Gary Payton II delivered a defensive gem with his high-jumping block against 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama as the Golden State guard returned from a foot injury.
The Warriors needed every big play — and only a handful of others have managed to get past Wembanyama so far.
“I’m probably the shortest,” Payton said with a laugh. “It’s just energy and effort.”
Stephen Curry scored 35 points and tied his season high with seven 3-pointers while dishing out six assists, and the Warriors held off Wembanyama and the slumping San Antonio Spurs 118-112 Friday night in a tournament match in season.
Cedi Osman’s 3 with 21 seconds left brought the Spurs within 112-109 before Curry converted four free throws the rest of the game and Klay Thompson made a pair.
After the game, Curry welcomed Team Davidson to the Warriors’ practice facility following his college program’s loss earlier in the day at Saint Mary’s.
Dario Saric added 20 points with four 3s and seven rebounds coming off the bench, while Thompson contributed 15 points and six assists. Golden State won for just the second time in nine games and still hopes to advance out of Group C in the season’s tournament.
The Warriors even discussed point differential during a late timeout — but that discussion didn’t really work, as a 15-point lead with 2 1/2 minutes left turned into a close game.
“We’re trying to move forward,” coach Steve Kerr said.
No. 1 pick Wembanyama had 22 points and eight rebounds but shot 1 of 6 from long range in San Antonio’s 11th straight loss. He had five quick points with a 3-pointer as the Spurs took an 11-4 lead. The rookie drove to the basket with a nice move around the waist, only for his shot to be crushed by Payton — more than a foot shorter and having missed the previous three games — midway through the second quarter.
“It was an exciting moment, the crowd loved it,” Kerr said. “It was quite a play.”
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 points, while Keldon Johnson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, which finished 0-4 in tournament play.
The Warriors have won the last five games against the Spurs and seven of nine games in the series, but have given up 34 points on their 24 turnovers.
Draymond Green served the final game of his five-game suspension for choking Rudy Gobert and practiced with the practice squad before returning Tuesday to Sacramento, which would have clinched a quarterfinal berth with a loss to the Warriors Friday.
“Hopefully he’ll be ready to play a lot of minutes,” Kerr said.
Golden State unveiled the new Jim Barnett Media Center in honor of the team’s former player and broadcaster.
“I’m so happy to be alive to see all of this,” Barnett said.
FOLLOWING
Spurs: Visit Denver on Sunday.
Warriors: Visit the Kings on Tuesday for the final match of Group C.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
