NBA: Curry leads Warriors fightback in Spurs defeat
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a score from teammate Kevin Durant. (AP FILE Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Stephen Curry scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors fought back from a 22-point deficit to land a psychological blow against the San Antonio Spurs with a 110-98 road victory on Wednesday.
The Warriors — who could ultimately end up facing San Antonio for a place in the NBA finals when the playoffs get under way — looked to be in deep trouble as the Spurs raced into a 29-7 first quarter lead.
But Curry and Klay Thompson led a magnificent team effort to haul the Warriors back into contention in the second quarter, gradually chipping away at San Antonio’s lead to close within three points at halftime.
The Warriors then turned on the style in the third quarter, piling on the pressure to open up an 84-77 lead heading into the final period.
From there the Warriors were always able to keep San Antonio at arm’s length, and picked off the Spurs to claim an ultimately convincing win.
Curry’s points haul included four three-pointers, a tally matched by offensive partner Klay Thompson who had 23 points.
Andre Iguodala (14) and David West (15) also posted double figure tallies for the Dubs, who improved to 61-14 to head the Western Conference comfortably from San Antonio, who are 57-17.
San Antonio’s scoring was led by Kawhi Leonard with 19 points while Spanish star Pau Gasol had 18 points. LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green also made double figures.
Reigning NBA MVP Curry was satisfied with a victory that gives the Warriors a huge boost as the playoffs loom, with injured star Kevin Durant still to return to their ranks.
“We’re on the right track,” Curry said. “We don’t win a championship in this game but we understand we’re getting better as we get to the playoffs and that’s really the only focus right now. We want to keep it up.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn’t mince his words about the quality of his team’s opponents, describing the Warriors as the best team in the NBA.
“They played great, they all played great,” Popovich said. “They just played better. Curry, Thompson — they all made shots. That’s why they’re the best team in the league.”
