Warriors withstand Spurs’ early energy, take commanding 3-0 lead
The Warriors first experienced what coach Steve Kerr called a “subdued feeling.” Then, the team both grieved and expressed sympathy over Erin Popovich, the wife of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who died Wednesday.
The Warriors then experienced sluggishness. Then, the Warriors saw the Spurs pour out their emotions stemmed from Popovich’s loss, his absence on the sideline and trailing in a first-round series.
The Warriors still finished with a 11097 Game 3 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, cementing a 3- 0 series lead and setting up the possibility of a four-game sweep on Sunday. Yet, the Warriors lacked the complete dominance they exerted in Game 1 and the offensive excellence they displayed in Game 2. With a team already missing Stephen Curry, the Warriors had more injury issues when both Kevin Durant and Shaun Livingston rolled their left ankles late in the game.
“They’re going to be OK,” Kerr said. “Shaun’s was probably a little worse than Kevin’s. Both sprained ankles, but I think they’ll be all right.”
Durant bobbled the ball, Spurs guard Patty Mills went for a steal and suddenly Durant rolled his left ankle with 4:36 left in the fourth quarter. Though he got up and walked away on his own, Durant eventually went to the locker room with 2:05 remaining. Durant was seen walking in the locker room afterwards without a limp.
“It’s cool. I’m good,” Durant said. “I shouldn’t have been playing with the ball anyway.”
Livingston also rolled his left ankle shortly after colliding with Mills. Livingston immediately stood up on his own, shot two free throws, then left the game.
“I rolled it pretty good,” said Livingston, who also did not appear to be limping. “I’m all right.”
As for everything else that happened on Thursday, the Warriors anticipated these challenges.
Kerr texted Popovich late Wednesday night, and they spoke Thursday. Spurs assistant Ettore Messina handled head-coaching responsibilities, while Popovich spent time with family. Kerr noted the past two days have been rough.
“It was very difficult. It was strange tonight looking down the sidelines and not seeing Pop,” Kerr said. “It’s a very difficult time obviously for Pop and his family, but all of us that love Pop and loved Erin. We feel for the whole family.”
Kerr’s players did the same. So because of that backdrop, Draymond Green anticipated one thing: “When you’re dealing with a city like this, everyone rallies around this team. It’s one huge family down here.”
The game started with the Spurs playing with unmatched energy. They stormed out to a 6- 0 lead with a Rudy Gay dunk, a Danny Green drive and a Mills reverse layup.
The game continued with the Warriors missing their first nine 3-point attempts. Klay Thompson made the team’s first 3-pointer with 2:08 left in the second quarter. And the Warriors finished thefirst half with only with a 52- 46 lead because their stellar perimeter defense (the Spurs went 1 of 11 on 3-pointers) offset their own poor 3-point shooting (2 of 13).
“When the 3 is not going, we have to continue to move the ball and get open looks,” Thompson said. “If we get open looks, they’re eventually going to fall. We rely on our defense when we’re not making shots. Our defense can be a constant for us and dictate how you play.”
Therefore, the game ended with the Warriors eventually exerting their dominance. Though the Warriors conceded a 7-1 run to open the third quarter, they quickly responded by making their outside shots. They went 5 of 11 from 3-point range in the third quarter. And the Warriors’ stars eventually exerted their depth when Durant (26 points on 9 of 17 shooting), Thompson (19 points on 8 of 16 shooting) and Livingston (16 points on 4- of-9 shooting) started to click.
Instead of those numbers, Kerr focused more on the team’s defense. San Antonio went 7 of 33 from 3-point range. LaMarcus Aldridge (18 points) and Pau Gasol (16 points) led the way.
“We have to take that punch and try to deliver a punch in the end,” Green said. “I think we did that to start the game. Then they punched us again, and we thought, ‘ Here we go again, we have to take another punch.’ The leadership in the locker room like that helps in the end.”
Kerr fielded support from his players as he played for Popovich in two separate stints (1999-2001, 2002- 03) and subsequently relied on him as a mentor. Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown grieved privately after serving as Popovich’s assistant. Their players vowed to still fulfill their responsibilities. And then there was the Warriors’ opponent, who became determined to win on their coach’s behalf and to salvage the series.
“It’s very awful. We have heavy hearts for Pop, the Spurs organization and the whole family affected,” Thompson said. “There’s always an amazing woman behind a great man. Rest in peace, Erin. It’s just unfortunate.”