OAKLAND – Round 1 of what could be a battle that extends deep into the postseason went to the Warriors, with a 120-90 blasting of the Spurs before a sellout crowd (19,596) Monday night at Oracle Arena.
Stephen Curry was brilliant, scoring 37 points in 28 minutes as the Warriors raced to the victory that lifted the Warriors’ home record this season to 21-0 and their overall win streak at Oracle to 39, third longest in NBA history.
The 30-point margin of victory is the biggest since 1989 for the Warriors (41-4) over the Spurs, who saw their 13-game win streak snapped.
Five other Warriors reached double figures, as Shaun Livingston and Brandon Rush each totaled 13 points, Marreese Speights finished with 12, and Klay Thompson and Draymond Green each added 11.
The Warriors brought defensive intensity from the opening tip, forcing San Antonio (38-7) into committing a season-high 26 turnovers, off which they scored 32 points. The defending champions outscored the Spurs in the paint (52-36), beat them on the glass (45-38) and outscored them 19-10 in fast-break points.
Curry’s point total was the highest scored against the Spurs this season, and the Warriors’ point total was the highest scored by a team against San Antonio.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Curry owned this game from start to finish, which for him came after three quarters. He surpassed 10,000 career points, ending with 10,015.
Curry’s line: 37 points (12-of-20 shooting, 6-of-9 from 3-point distance), four assists and five steals. He finished plus-23 for the game.
Green also was outstanding, with nine rebounds and six assists and three steals to go along with his 11 points.
TURNING POINT
After a Boris Diaw hook shot pulled the Spurs within six, 35-29, with 9:08 left in the second quarter, the Warriors responded with a 22-9 run to go up 57-38 with 2:49 left in the quarter.
Livingston scored nine points during the rally, with Thompson putting in five, as the Warriors held San Antonio to 36.4-percent shooting during that stretch while also forcing three turnovers.
The Spurs got no closer than 10 (62-52, 10:41 left in the third quarter) after that, while the Warriors led by as much as 33.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) was listed as out.
Spurs: C/F Tim Duncan (R knee soreness) was listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Warriors return to action Wednesday night, when the play host to the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena.
