November 24th 2024.
It was the second night of a back-to-back for the Warriors and they were feeling the effects. Despite a strong start and leading by 17 points in the third quarter, Golden State just couldn't hold on. Their once fiery offense fizzled out and they struggled to make a single field goal for over six minutes in the fourth quarter. The Spurs took advantage of this lull and outscored the Warriors by a whopping 25 points in the final 12 minutes and 30 seconds. It was a tough loss for the Warriors, who had to face a younger and fresher San Antonio team.
The Warriors were counting on their younger players to pick up the slack for their veterans, but Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody couldn't quite make up for the quiet nights of Steph Curry and Draymond Green. There was hope that Jonathan Kuminga could provide some much-needed offense, but unfortunately, he was unable to play due to illness. Meanwhile, the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama had a standout performance with 25 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Rookie Stephon Castle also had a big impact with 19 points, including some crucial plays in the final minutes.
This wasn't the first time the Warriors had blown a lead of at least 17 points and lost, but it was still a tough pill to swallow. In the beginning, it seemed like the Warriors were in control, going on an 11-0 run followed by a 7-0 run in the first quarter. Andrew Wiggins and Buddy Hield were on fire, with Wiggins scoring 10 points and Hield passing Joe Johnson for 19th on the all-time 3-point leaderboard. The Warriors were hitting shots from behind the arc and dominating in the paint, using their motion offense to generate consistent looks at the rim.
The Spurs fought back and took a 10-point lead, forcing Warriors coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout. The absence of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who was recovering from a stroke, didn't stop his team from playing the type of ball-movement basketball that Popovich's teams are known for. But the Warriors regrouped and started to target Wembanyama on the perimeter, pulling him away from the rim and forcing him to navigate screens. This was Wembanyama's first game back after missing three games with a knee injury, and the Warriors took advantage of his vulnerability on both ends of the court.
In the third quarter, Lindy Waters III, filling in for the injured De'Anthony Melton, hit two crucial 3-pointers to stop a San Antonio push. But in the fourth quarter, the Spurs came alive and cut the deficit to just four points. With their lead slipping away, the Warriors brought back Curry and Green earlier than usual. They had already played heavy minutes the night before in New Orleans, and it was clear that their fatigue was starting to show. The Spurs' Castle continued to wreak havoc, limiting Curry to just eight points and sinking a clutch 3-pointer to give the Spurs their first lead since the opening basket.
The Warriors' shots just weren't falling and their energy seemed to be draining with each passing minute. Curry even made a costly turnover due to over-dribbling. In the end, they only managed to score 13 points in the entire fourth quarter, their lowest scoring period of the season. It was a sudden and unexpected turnaround, with the Warriors going from a 17-point lead to an eight-point deficit. It was the first time this season that they had collapsed and were unable to regain their footing in time to salvage the game. It was a tough lesson for the Warriors, but they would have to regroup and come back stronger for their next game.
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