Stephen Curry scores 35 points with seven 3-pointers as Warriors hold off Spurs 118-112
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 35 points and matched his season high with seven 3-pointers while also dishing out six assists, and the Golden State Warriors held off Victor Wembanyama and the slumping San Antonio Spurs 118-112 on Friday night in an In-Season Tournament game.
Cedi Osman’s 3 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 3s 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 still hopes to advance out of Group C in the in-season tournament.
No. 1 pick Wembanyama had 22 points and eight rebounds but shot 1 for 6 from long range in San Antonio’s 11th straight loss. He had five quick points with a 3-pointer as the Spurs jumped ahead 11-4. The 7-foot-3 rookie drove to the basket with a pretty around-the-waist move, only to have his shot blocked by a high-leaping Gary Patyon II — more than a full foot shorter — midway through the second quarter.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 points, while Keldon Johnson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, which finished 0-4 in tournament group play.
The Warriors have won the last five against the Spurs and seven of nine in the series.
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 return Tuesday at Sacramento, which would have clinched a quarterfinal spot with a Warriors loss Friday.
“Hopefully he’ll be ready to play a lot of minutes,” coach Steve Kerr said.
Golden State unveiled the new Jim Barnett Media Center honoring the team’s former player and broadcaster.
“I’m so glad I’m alive to see all of this,” Barnett said.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Denver on Sunday.
Warriors: Visit the Kings on Tuesday for the final game of Group C play.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba