Programming note: Spurs-Warriors coverage starts tonight at 6:30pm with Warriors Pregame Live on CSN Bay Area, and streaming live right here.
OAKLAND – Though their championship is enough for most, the Warriors on Monday night confront Round 1 of their final fight before it’s universally accepted they have indeed arrived.
The San Antonio Spurs, who have soft-bullied the Warriors for the better part of 20 years, enter Oracle Arena hoping to maintain that domination.
The Warriors, 40-4, have the best record in the NBA, but the Spurs at 38-6 are close enough to be felt in the chase for the No. 1 spot in the postseason. San Antonio also rolls into town with a 13-game win streak.
[POOLE: Popovich: Facing off against Warriors 'like playing yourself']
The Warriors are perfect at home this season, 20-0, and have won 38 in a row overall at Oracle Arena. The last team to beat them at home in regulation was the Spurs, 113-100, on Nov. 11, 2014.
This game, widely perceived as a Western Conference Finals preview, is the first meeting in NBA history between teams with at least 38 victories through the 44 games.
[RELATED: Spurs, Warriors set combined winning percentage record]
BETTING LINE
Warriors by 5.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Stephen Curry vs. Tony Parker. Each starts his team’s offensive engine with his ability to break down a defense. Each will see a lot of the other, while also getting plenty of help. Curry will try to halt Parker’s penetration, while Parker will try to run Curry off the 3-point line. Points alone won’t dictate the winner of this clash – unless one utterly dominates the other.
[POOLE: Curry presents 'ultimate test' for Spurs' Parker]
Harrison Barnes vs. Kawhi Leonard. Barnes typically gets the opposing small forward, and this will be no exception. He won’t be alone, as Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green also will takes turns against Leonard, whose all-around game has put him very much in the MVP race. A big game by Barnes will go a long way toward taxing San Antonio’s ferocious defense.
Draymond Green/Andrew Bogut (and others) vs. LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge during his years in Portland punished the Warriors in the paint. That was then. He knows now to expect a variety of defenders, led by Green, whose size/mobility is a double-edged sword. He’ll have a tough time defending Aldridge on the block, but none of the San Antonio power forwards can defend Green from the arc.
LAST 10
Warriors: 8-2.
Spurs: 10-0.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) is listed as out.
Spurs: C/F Tim Duncan (R knee soreness) is listed as out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors in the regular season lost two of three in 2014-15, have lost 15 of the last 18 and 54 of the last 62. They have lost 24 of the last 34 meetings in Oakland.
QUOTABLE
“We’ll benefit, and they will benefit, regardless of the outcome. There’s definitely significance to it. At the end of the year, you’d like to be the 1-seed and have home court throughout. That’s always been important in the playoffs. And we’re neck-and-neck. We play them three more times after this. These are all important games for seeding.” – Warriors coach Steve Kerr on tonight’s game
