Stephen Curry on Friday scored 35 points and matched his season high with seven three-pointers while also dishing out six assists as the Golden State Warriors held off the slumping San Antonio Spurs 118-112 in a day of In-Season Tournament games.
Gary Payton II delivered a defensive gem with his high-leaping block against Victor Wembanyama as the Warriors guard returned from a foot injury.
The Warriors needed every big play — and only a handful of others have been able to get above the 2.21m-tall Wembanyama so far.
Photo: AP
“I’m probably the smallest,” Payton said. “It’s just energy and effort.”
Cedi Osman’s three with 21 seconds left pulled the Spurs within 112-109 before Curry converted four free throws the rest of the way and Klay Thompson made a pair.
Dario Saric added 20 points with four threes and seven rebounds off the bench, while Thompson contributed 15 points and six assists. Golden State won for just the second time in nine games and they still hope to advance out of Group C in the In-Season Tournament.
Photo: Kyle Terada-USA Today
The Warriors even discussed point differential during one late timeout — but that chat did not quite work out, as a 15-point lead with 2.5 minutes left turned into a tight finish.
“We’re trying to advance,” coach Steve Kerr said.
No. 1 pick Wembanyama had 22 points and eight rebounds, but shot one for six from long range in San Antonio’s 11th straight loss.
He had five quick points with a three-pointer as the Spurs jumped ahead 11-4.
Midway through the second quarter the rookie drove to the basket with a pretty around-the-waist move, only to have his shot swatted by Payton — who is about 33cm shorter.
“It was an exciting moment, the crowd loved it,” Kerr said. “It was a hell of a play.”
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 points, while Keldon Johnson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, who finished 0-4 in tournament group play.
The Warriors have won their past five against the Spurs and seven of nine in the series, but gave up 34 points off their 24 turnovers.
Draymond Green served the final game of his five-game suspension for putting a choke hold on Rudy Gobert and has been working out with the training staff ahead of his expected return on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings, who would have clinched a quarter-final spot with a Warriors loss on Friday.
“Hopefully he’ll be ready to play a lot of minutes,” Kerr said.
Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic dealt the Boston Celtics’ In-Season Tournament hopes a blow, while the Houston Rockets knocked the Denver Nuggets out of the new competition.
The Magic beat the Celtics 113-96 to conclude group play at 3-1. The Celtics fell to 2-1, level with the Brooklyn Nets, who each have a game remaining with group play to conclude on Tuesday.
The Rockets won 105-86 to eliminate the Nuggets in a group that saw the New Orleans Pelicans solidify their hold on the top spot with a 116-106 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The six group winners and two wild-card teams advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament, which has semi-finals and the final in Las Vegas next month.
Additional reporting by AFP
Elsewhere on Friday, it was:
‧ Bucks 131, Wizards 128
‧ Grizzlies 89, Suns 110
‧ Knicks 100, Heat 98
‧ Raptors 121, Bulls 108
‧ Pacers 136, Pistons 113
‧ Timberwolves 111, Kings 124
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