Durant, Golden State cruise to victory for 3-0 series lead
San Antonio makes it a game for 3½ quarters before faltering
SAN ANTONIO — Spurs coach Gregg Popovich pulled out all the stops in an attempt to ensure his demoralized team would be ready for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
“I hired soothsayers, I channeled Rasputin, all sorts of things,” Popovich said.
Whatever he did, it worked as the injury decimated Spurs refused to back down for 3½ quarters.
Although San Antonio ultimately lost 120-108 to Golden State on Saturday, the Spurs could hold their heads up afterward, something that couldn’t be said after they got blown out by 36 points in Game 2.
“I thought they did a great job, competed really well,” Popovich said. “I couldn’t ask any more of them competitiveness wise .”
All five starters scored in double figures for the Warriors, including Kevin Durant with a game-high 33, as they grabbed a commanding 3-0 series lead to push the Spurs to the brink of elimination.
Golden State is just the third team in NBA history to start the postseason 11-0, joining the 1989 and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers.
But the Silver & Black at least played with “belief,” something Popovich said they sorely lacked in Game 2’s 136-100 pummeling.
“Game 2 was a tough one for multiple reasons — you all know why,” said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who scored a team-high 21 points. “We knew were going to be able to bounce back at least emotionally and play a better game. But it’s just too tough. We are missing Kawhi’s offense and defense.”
The Spurs entered the game down two starters: the incomparable Leonard, who missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle, and Tony Parker, who is lost for the postseason after he suffered a quadriceps injury in early in the second round.
As if those losses weren’t enough, David Lee left the game after suffering a left knee injury with 2:57 left in the first quarter while sinking a finger-roll layup. Still, the Spurs gamely soldiered on.
Having blown a 25-point lead after losing Leonard in the third quarter of Game 1, the Spurs lost 113-111. That one-two punch all but crushed the Spurs’ spirits, and they were lifeless in Game 2, leaving Popovich to question their mental toughness afterward.
But there was none of that this time.
With the 39-year-old Ginobili turning back the clock with 21 points and Jonathon Simmons continuing his postseason coming-out party with 14 points, the Spurs showed no quit despite having the odds stacked against them.
LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 18 points after scoring eight in Game 2.
“We have got to try to do the same thing (in Game 4),” Ginobili said. “It’s going to be really difficult, but the only thing we can do now is fight. If not, shake their hands, look them in the eyes and say congratulations.”
The Warriors used a 12-0 run late in the first half to lead by as many as 12 points before settling for a 64-55 halftime advantage.
The Spurs pulled within three points shortly after the break, but the Warriors led 100-88 entering the fourth quarter after Durant tallied 19 in the third.
Popovich decided Saturday morning to keep Leonard out. The Spurs’ leading scorer and top defender protested, but Popovich decided a long-term view is needed when making such decisions.
“You see guys go out there with broken bones, missing fingers,” Spurs guard Danny Green said. “But the bigger picture is what matters here. They care about guys’ bodies and careers.”
The Warriors played without center Zaza Pachulia (heel), robbing the Spurs of their chance to boo the man whose closeout resulted in Leonard’s seriesaltering injury.
Golden State got an early boost from Pachulia’s backup, JaVale McGeen, who scored all 16 of his points in the first half.
Stephen Curry had 21 points for the Warriors to pass Rick Barry as the franchise’s postseason scoring leader with 1,795 points.