Warriors instant analysis: Steph Curry ties Michael Jordan’s record in win over Spurs

SAN ANTONIO –- A historic Steph Curry performance was just enough to lift the Warriors past San Antonio 109-108 at the Frost Bank Center on Friday. 

Curry warmed up in Nike shoes – Kobe’s, to be exact – but changed back to Under Armour Curry’s once the game began, and then slipped into another UA blue pair once the game started. Regardless of what shoe Curry wore, he had Spurs defenders slipping and sliding in San Antonio.

The Warriors superstar scored 31 points in the second half and 49 overall for the game, tying him with the great Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games (44) after turning 30. It was Curry’s second consecutive 40-ball: he put in 46 in the Warriors’ victory over the Spurs on Wednesday. 

Curry’s herculean effort helped the Warriors offset another great showing by the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, whose 26-point, 12-rebound and three blocks weren’t quite enough for San Antonio to prevent a two-game Golden State sweep in three days.

Wembanyama’s third-quarter theatrics — and drawing a foul on a rebound — led to Warriors coach Steve Kerr being given a technical. 

The Warriors and Spurs traded baskets in the game’s final two minutes, but the deciding plays came with 30 seconds left. Curry got a steal, threw a beautiful behind the back pass to Jimmy Butler, and then saw Butler get blocked by Wembanyama as the Spurs still led by one.

But with six seconds remaining, Curry drew the foul on a drive and banged in both free throws to give the Warriors a lead they would not relinquish after De’Aaron Fox missed a mid-range jumper.

The Warriors needed every Curry point Friday, especially early. The non-Curry, Butler and Will Richard players were a combined 3 of 25 in the first half. Kerr did not sub out Curry in the third quarter like usual, instead allowing him to play until the fourth quarter began.

Golden State (8-6), winners of two in a row, will travel to New Orleans and face former Warrior Kevon Looney on Sunday in the fourth game of their six-game road trip.

Guarding Wembanyama

After having success – or as much as one team can have against a 7-foot-5 unicorn who can still put up 31 points and 15 rebounds on a slow night – against Wembanyama, the Warriors repeated their tried and true defensive formula. 

Draymond Green, a foot shorter but built like a brick, was the primary defender. Other helpside defenders – Gary Payton, Brandin Podziemski, etc. – swarmed once he began his dribble. 

It gave the Frenchman fits on Wednesday, goading him into eight turnovers as he dribbled into traffic. 

Though Wembanyama kept the turnovers down, the Spurs did not as the Warriors swarmed all over the dark grey court. San Antonio had 14 turnovers in the first half alone that led to 17 Warriors points. That did not remain the status quo in the second half, though.

Wembanyama scored 10 in the third quarter, a stretch that included a spectacular self-alley-oop off the glass. The Spurs made a concerted effort to give him the ball in the paint, something he did only once in the first half.

He brought the arena to near-pandemonium after slamming an alley-oop on a baseline out of bounds play midway through the third quarter. Wembanyama and Green jawed back and forth at one another, and Warriors security had to race in from the other side of the court to help de-escalate the situation. Green was subbed out shortly thereafter.

Richard, Payton rock

Kerr promised drastic changes to the starting lineup and delivered by bringing Moses Moody and rookie Richard into the first five to join Curry, Green and Butler. 

The new starting lineup might not be a passing fad if the two games in San Antonio are any indication. Moody has been arguably the team’s second-best shooter and has given the starting unit a much-needed shooting component, while Richard has wowed with his energy. 

He reversed home a sweet layup around Wembanyama in the first quarter, and then nailed a triple over his outstretched hands in the second. 

Richard finished the game with 10 points. Meanwhile, for the second consecutive game, Gary Payton II played big minutes because of Jonathan Kuminga’s knee inury-related absence. 

Podziemski’s role

The Warriors closed the second quarter with the Moody-Curry-Podziemski-Butler-Green lineup that helped the team end last season 23-8. They were outscored 12-10, but the ball moved and the Spurs made a few tough looks. 

Podziemski, who Kerr lauds for doing “all the little things” as a “connector” was exactly that. He scored 10, and also grabbed three rebounds and dished out three assists while setting the kinds of screens the coaches loved and defending Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox.