SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jonathan Kuminga attacked the rim and tried to get the Golden State Warriors back in the game. They couldn't get a timely enough stop.
Keldon Johnson and the San Antonio Spurs played in some key moments.
Johnson had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and San Antonio defeated a Golden State team that played without Stephen Curry 126-113 on Saturday night.
Jeremy Sochan and Malachi Branum each scored 20 points for San Antonio, which dropped seven of its nine points. Julien Champagnie had 17 points and seven rebounds.
“It was very important to bring the energy from the get-go, especially to teams like Golden State and San Francisco, the crowd and the environment,” Sochan said.
Klay Thompson came off the bench for Golden State, who scored 27 points, but the Kings vs. Lakers game, also played at home at Chase Center, was the first time Golden State has dropped back-to-back games since January 25th and 27th.
Curry and Spurs rookie Victor Wembaneyama both missed the game with right ankle injuries.
Kuminga scored the Warriors' first nine points of the fourth and 11 of 13, all on attacks to the basket, finishing with 26 for his fifth 20-point game in the last seven games. However, he didn't get enough help as the Warriors narrowly missed out on Curry's 26.9 points per game.
Every time Golden State made a push late in the third, the Spurs seemed to find an answer offensively, and they continued to do so until the final 12 minutes. Trayce Jackson-Davis hit a driving layup with 37 seconds left in the quarter, but Champagnie sank a baseline 3-pointer moments later.
“We did everything we could to get back into the game in the second half,” Kuminga said. “It's a little late.”
The Spurs made 17-of-33 shots from deep, with Champagnie making five threes and Johnson making four. They entered this game ranked 29th in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage at 34.8%.
San Antonio led by 18 points midway through the second quarter on 55.9% shooting and went into halftime up 62-43.
“It was tough. We just couldn't get any traction into the game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We didn't feel like we had any confidence or energy. I thought their pace and movement bothered us and caused some breakdowns. Like we weren't really in the game. felt.”
Chris Paul started in Curry's place and had 10 points and nine assists. This will be his 12th start and first since Jan. 5 against Detroit, as the Warriors used 20 different starting lineups.
An MRI scan of Curry's ankle showed no structural damage. He is scheduled to be retested on Tuesday.
“I can say it's a good result. The MRI scan showed nothing abnormal, but I feel better today,” Kerr said. “Overall, I would call it positive.”
The two-time MVP, who turns 36 on Thursday, suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter of Thursday's 125-122 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
The Warriors ended their winning streak against San Antonio at five and won three straight at home in the series.
A day after it was announced that the Laver Cup tennis event will be held at Chase Center in September 2025, retired tennis star Roger Federer sat courtside with Warriors owner Joe Lacob.
According to Elias, this will be the first time Curry or Thompson will not start in a Golden State game since Jan. 20, 2023, against the Clippers.
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The teams play again on Monday in San Antonio.
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