After their loss the night before at Sacramento, the Warriors took their frustration out on young Spurs by revising their lineups. They delivered 34 assists, regained their outside address (51%), and caused 19 stray balls.
In the absence of Tre Jones, ill, the Spurs start the match with three lost balls during their first four possessions, allowing Jordan Poole, holder with Klay Thompson at rest, to put the Warriors in orbit (14-4). However, the Spurs are back in the game by harvesting an offensive rebound. They even pass before the Warriors chained four 3-pointers to regain a seven-point lead (33-26).
The Golden State defense then takes control of the game and provides rhythm to its attack. Moody, Wiggins, Poole, and Curry at ten meters, continue the Dubs’ festival of skill to increase the gap to +16 at the break (61-45). Upon returning from the locker room, the meeting takes on the appearance of a correctional. The Curry – Poole doublet launches a 15-0 which puts the Spurs at -31 (76-45)! Despite Keldon Johnson’s start in the third quarter, the Spurs will never worry the Warriors who are heading for an easy victory (132-95).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Jordan Poole finds his rhythm. Holder in place of Klay Thompson, spared for the second game of this back-to-back, Jordan Poole was able to benefit from the Stephen Curry effect. As Steve Kerr explained before the game, when Poole plays with Curry, the opposing best defender takes care of the double MVP, giving more space and opportunity to Jordan Poole. He started the game on a high note, scoring 14 points on 5 of 6 on shots, but he also continued his momentum surrounded by the “second unit”. Even more encouraging for Steve Kerr, Poole was more incisive with the ball and in his decision-making. He thus limited his dribbling and his loss of balls, two of his cute sins.
– Golden State’s defense is finding consistency. Faced with Spurs who lack players capable of punishing in one-on-one, the Warriors put the Texans under the extinguisher from the start of the meeting. San Antonio finished the first quarter shooting 38 percent, including 2 of 12 from long range. Another positive point for Steve Kerr, the second five made up of Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, JaMychal Green, Anthony Lamb, and Donte Di Vincenzo or Jordan Poole kept the same intensity, and the Spurs experienced a nightmare in the second quarter (30 % on shots and 5 stray bullets). Only downside for the Warriors, the 22 offensive rebounds left to their opponents.
– Spurs adrift. Gregg Popovich’s men had started the season with five wins in the first seven games. Since then, it’s been downhill with six defeats in their last seven games. Last night, their defense again took on water, without ever being able to stop Golden State’s collective play. The Spurs, who arrived in San Francisco as NBA leaders with nearly 30 assists per game, left Chase Center with just 17 caviars, 6 of which were distributed during garbage time.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jordan Poole. Holder, Poole had the best game of his season, finishing with 36 points at 13/20 on shots, and 5/10 at 3-pointers. He wandered through the Spurs defense while playing fair, as evidenced by his lack of ball play.
✅ Stephen Curry. For the first time this season, Curry did not finish as the team’s leading scorer. With the Texas defense focused on him and Jordan Poole with the hot hand, the double MVP was restrained but efficient with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, without playing the last quarter.
✅ Jonathan Kuminga – Ja Mychal Green – Moses Moody. Often outside of Steve Kerr’s rotation this season, all three players were in sight that night. Kuminga (15 points, 5/7 on shots) in particular showed patience, while Green (9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks) and Moody (11 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds) showed their versatility.
✅ ⛔Keldon Johnson. Transparent in the first half, Spurs’ best scorer scored 11 of his 15 points in the third quarter to try, unsuccessfully, to revive his team.
⛔ Devin Vasell. Brilliant since the start of the season, Vassell came through against the Golden State defense, finishing with 6 points at 3/11 on shots.
THE FOLLOWING
Golden State (6-8) : the Warriors head to Phoenix where they will challenge the Suns on Wednesday night to Thursday.
San Antonio (6-8): The Spurs chain back-to-back in Portland tonight.
