More frustration for Warriors, Kerr — Green hurt in loss.
SAN ANTONIO — In the fourth quarter Monday night, while he watched on a TV in the visitors’ locker room as his less-heralded teammates faded down the stretch of an 89-75 loss to the Spurs at AT&T Center, Warriors forward Draymond Green — one of the more competitive players in the NBA — was encouraged.
Without its four All-Stars, Golden State had overcome a 16-point, second-quarter deficit in a hostile road environment. Quinn Cook (20 points, five rebounds, five assists) and Kevon Looney (12 points, eight rebounds, three steals) continued to reinforce that even the fringes of the roster are filled with capable players.
“It was really good to see guys battle like that,” said Green, who didn’t return after leaving the game midway through the second quarter
with a pelvic contusion. “That’s what it’s all about right now. We’re trying to get better, and guys are taking advantage of the opportunity that they’re getting.”
Barring a shocking development, the Warriors are locked into the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed behind Houston. Their final 11 regularseason games will be more about getting their stars healthy and giving role players opportunities than entering the playoffs on an extended winning streak.
By that measure, the value of Golden State’s fourth defeat in six games extended beyond the result. The hope is that, thanks to nights like Monday, the Warriors will be better prepared to play deep into June for the fourth straight year.
Without 77.7 percent of its per-game offensive production for the final 2½ quarters, Golden State led by four points early in the fourth. The problem was that the Warriors had little recourse when weary legs prompted clanged jumpers late. San Antonio unleashed a 16-3 run to build a more-than-sufficient cushion, sending fans filing toward the exits with more than two minutes left.
Golden State finished shooting 40.5 percent from the field, including 3-for-19 from threepoint range, and was outrebounded 48-36. One of the most dynamic teams in NBA history when at full strength, the Warriors were held more than 40 points below their league-leading scoring average of 115.5 points per game.
“What this game was about for us was fighting, competing and trying to find a way — and we had a chance,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “It was great to see our young guys come through and really play well for us.”
Three hundred and seventythree days ago, Kerr became the center of a national debate when he decided to rest Green, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala for a nationally televised loss in San Antonio. Kerr’s message was clear: Keeping his core players healthy for the playoffs, not a regular-season win, was the priority for the last stop of an eight-city, 13-day odyssey.
The NBA’s efforts to ease teams’ travel schedules this season have eliminated the need for such mass rest. However, Kerr’s insistence on putting long-term health over regular-season results persists. All three All-Stars — Curry (tweaked right ankle), Thompson (fractured right thumb) and Kevin Durant (fractured rib) — who didn’t join Golden State in San Antonio probably would have played against the Spurs if it were the playoffs.
Midway through the second quarter Monday, shortly after getting kneed in the groin on a Danny Green drive to the rim, Green headed toward the locker room. Little more than two minutes later, LaMarcus Aldridge hit a finger-roll layup to give San Antonio a 44-28 lead.
The Warriors announced at halftime that Green’s night was done. In 12 minutes, he had no points on 0-for-4 shooting, three rebounds and a plusminus of minus-16.
It put Golden State in precarious territory: For the first time this season, it would have to play an entire half without any of its All-Stars. That the Warriors were playing at AT&T Center, where they entered Monday 3-25 (.107) since the Spurs made it their home arena at the start of the 2002-03 season, only worsened their odds of climbing out of an eightpoint, halftime deficit.
In the wake of another loss, Golden State can take solace knowing that reinforcements loom. Curry, who has missed the past six games, will be evaluated by team doctors Tuesday and could return for Friday’s game against Atlanta. Thompson and Durant will be out a bit longer, but are expected to come back with plenty of time to settle into a groove entering the playoffs.
“There’s some good things we can take from this,” Cook said, “but we’re still trying to come in here and win these games.”
“It was really good to see guys battle like that . ... We’re trying to get better, and guys are taking advantage of the opportunity that they’re getting.” Draymond Green, Warriors forward