Curry and Durant shine as Warriors sweep Spurs for place in NBA Finals
STEPHEN Curry and Kevin Durant led the way as the Golden State Warriors sealed a clean sweep of the San Antonio Spurs to reach their third consecutive NBA Finals berth on Monday.
Curry scored 36 points and Durant weighed in with 29 as the Warriors powered to a 129-115 win to complete a 4-0 victory in the bestof-seven Western Conference finals series.
It was the third consecutive series sweep of the 2017 postseason for the Warriors, who are now 12-0 in the playoffs heading into the finals.
Durant, who attracted controversy after his blockbuster move from Oklahoma City Thunder last year to the Warriors, was delighted to be back in the NBA Finals once again.
The 28-year-old forward, who also pulled down 12 rebounds and contributed four assists, admitted he and Curry had rediscovered their understanding following the midseason injury that sidelined him for around 20 games.
“Our chemistry is getting better and better, and we’re going to need it even more whoever we play in the finals,” Durant told an interviewer.
“It’s great to be one of the last two teams standing – we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Curry, meanwhile, admitted he was relishing his partnership with Durant.
“It makes the game fun,” Durant said. “The way we play the game and move the ball, watching him do what he does. It’s a fun way to play and we want to keep that up. I’m having fun, enjoying what I do.
“Things are flowing. It’s a part of our identity to get that mojo going. I think we’re prepared for pretty much anything. We’re going to be confident and ready to go.”
Spurs fans, meanwhile, bade what looked like a farewell to 39-year-old Argentinian legend Manu Ginobili, who was given a rousing ovation as he left the court.
“He’s somebody I grew up watching,” Durant said. “An amazing competitor. I got nothing but love and respect for him.”
Warriors dominate
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, meanwhile, spoke admiringly of the Warriors.
“They were fantastic. From ownership, to the coaches, the players. They play a great brand of basketball. Hats off to them – great job,” said Popovich, who also saluted Ginobili in what might have been his final game.
Ginobili had been handed a starting berth “out of respect”, Popovich said. “This is a Hall of Fame player who allowed me to play him off the bench for the last decade or something because it would make us a better team overall.”
“He’s a big reason for our success. He deserved to have that night of respect so that he really feels that we appreciate everything he’s done for us over the years.
“If he decides he’s going to play again that’s up to him,” Popovich said. “Manu is a grown man. He’ll figure out what is best for him and his family.”
The depleted Spurs, missing the injured Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, were always chasing the game as the powerful Warriors offence dominated almost from first to last.
The Warriors’ win keeps them on course for an unprecedented third consecutive NBA Finals meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lead their Eastern Conference finals series against Boston 2-1.
The Spurs were always struggling after an early points blitz from the Warriors that saw the visitors power into a 31-19 at the end to silence the AT&T Center crowd in Texas.
The writing was on the wall from the moment the Warriors reeled off 13 unanswered points to grab a 21-7 lead, giving the contest an ominously familiar pattern.
Thereafter, the Warriors comfortably kept the Spurs at arm’s length, with their multifaceted offence proving too much for San Antonio.
Ginobili to take time
The Warriors maintained a 14point cushion at half-time to lead 65-51 and opened the second half with a 25-foot 3-pointer from Thompson to make it 68-51.
They remained 96-78 ahead at the end of the third quarter and there was only going to be one winner from there, with the Warriors keeping the score ticking over to the buzzer.
Ginobili, meanwhile, on Monday said he would take his time before deciding on his future.
The 39-year-old Argentine star, a veteran of four NBA championshipwinning Spurs teams, left the court to a resounding ovation as San Antonio’s season ended in Texas.
But the veteran guard, who turns 40 in July, said he planned to let the dust settle on his latest season before deciding on his future in the NBA.
Ginobili said he felt as if the San Antonio crowd were bidding him farewell, but he was adamant that he could still continue to play at the highest level.
“I felt more energetic, more needed, more useful to the team, so I ended up feeling better than the way I started,” Ginobili said.
“I do feel like I can still play. But that’s not what is going to make me retire or not – it’s about how I feel, if I want to go through all of that again. It felt like they wanted me to retire, like they were giving me sort of a celebration night.
“And of course, I’m getting closer and closer. There is no secret, for sure. It’s getting harder and harder. But I always said that I wanted to let it sink in for three weeks, four weeks, whatever, and then I will sit with my wife and see how it feels.”
Ginobili, meanwhile, said whatever his choice – playing on or retiring – he would be happy.
“I have to choose between two truly wonderful options,” he said. “One is to keep playing in this league at this age, enjoying every day, playing the sport I still love.
“The other one is to stay at home, be a dad, travel more, enjoy my whole family. I have a wonderful family and spend time with them.
“Whatever it is, it’s two unbelievable options. So there is no way I can be sad because, whatever I decide, it’s going to be great.”