Spurs dominate Warriors
Rodgers, 26, matched his career-best PGA finish with the runner-up effort after failing in his first PGA playoff.
“It has been such a long building process the past year and a half. All the hard work paid off with how well I played this week,” Rodgers said.
— AFP Los Angeles, Nov. 19: The Golden State Warriors’ malaise deepened on Sunday with a third straight NBA defeat, the two-time defending champions falling 92-104 to the Spurs in San Antonio.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Spurs, who thwarted the Warriors’ late rally bid, keeping the champions winless in a threegame swing through Texas.
It’s just the third time since coach Steve Kerr took the helm at Golden State in 2014 that the Warriors have lost three games on the trot.
They were held to a season-low in points in a 10786 loss to Houston on Thursday — after which Kerr admitted the team was both physically and “spiritually” banged-up — a reference to superstar Stephen Curry’s groin injury and the spat between Draymond Green and Kevin Durant that saw Green suspended by the team for one game.
A day after a disappointing loss to the Mavericks in Dallas, the Warriors still couldn’t find their rhythm, losing for the fifth time in seven games.
“We’ve got to get back to our team identity,” Kerr said, saying they couldn’t give in to frustration despite the injury absences of Curry and Green — who was again sidelined by a sprained toe.
“Everyone has to come together,” Kerr said.
Durant led the Warriors with 26 points, but made just eight of 25 shots — and only one of eight from three-point range.
Klay Thompson scored 25 points on 11 of 26 shooting, making just three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
DeMar DeRozan scored
20 points and Rudy Gay chipped in 19 for the Spurs, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
With the defeat, the 12-6 Warriors slipped to second in the Western Conference, a game behind the Portland Trail Blazers who improved to 11-5 with a 119109 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Damian Lillard scored 40 points and C.J. McCollom added 25 for the Trail Blazers.
James scores 51 against Heat
LeBron James launched his two-game reunion tour by dropping 51 points on the Miami Heat in his first visit to his former team since joining the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
James made it look easy from the opening tip off. He scored 19 points in the first quarter on the way to a season high.
“It’s just playing with greatness,” Lonzo Ball said after Los Angeles wrapped up a 113-97 win. — AFP