(AP) Spurs outlast Warriors in double OT 129-127
By RAUL DOMINGUEZ
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO
Manu Ginobili’s play in the final 50 seconds was almost too much for Gregg Popovich to handle. Then again, the Spurs’ coach is used to his veteran guard’s free-wheeling style.
Ginobili’s 3-pointer from the wing with 1.2 seconds left in double overtime lifted the San Antonio Spurs to a thrilling 129-127 victory Monday night over the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry, who had 44 points in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals.
The game-winning shot came 43.7 seconds after Ginobili took an ill-advised 3 that appeared to cost the Spurs the game.
Ginobili’s 3 capped an improbable comeback for the Spurs, who trailed by 16 points with 4 minutes left in regulation before going on an 18-2 run to close the fourth quarter and force overtime.
Golden State trailed by five with 1 minute left in the second overtime before the Warriors scored six straight points to take a one-point lead on Kent Bazemore’s reverse layup that gave the Warriors a 127-126 advantage with 3.9 seconds left.
Bazemore’s layup was set up by Ginobili’s errant 27-foot 3-pointer with 44.9 seconds left.
Trailing 127-126 with 3.9 seconds left in the second overtime, Ginobili launched a high 3-pointer off a cross-court inbounds pass from Kawhi Leonard.
Golden State had one final chance but Jarrett Jack’s 3-pointer from the top of the key was off.
Tony Parker scored 28 points to lead San Antonio while Danny Green added 22 points, Leonard had 18 and Ginobili 16.
Tim Duncan finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes. Duncan, who is battling a stomach bug, left the game with 3 minutes left in regulation and only played the final seconds of each overtime.
Curry had 11 assists and was 18 for 35 from the field and 6 for 14 on 3-pointers for Golden State, which has lost 30 straight in San Antonio dating back to Feb. 14, 1997.
Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes each added 19 points, Jarrett Jack had 15 and Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The Warriors missed eight of their final nine shots in regulation, including a desperation heave by Curry at the buzzer against several defenders.
The Spurs slowed Curry early in the fourth quarter by putting the 6-foot-7 Leonard on in the fourth quarter. Curry scored only six points in the fourth quarter, helping fuel San Antonio’s rally behind Parker and Leonard.
Curry had 22 points in the third quarter, including 14 straight late in the period. Curry’s run gave Golden State a 90-72 lead with 37.5 seconds left in the third.
Curry found his groove after a sluggish first half.
After averaging only 3.3 turnovers in Golden State’s first-round upset of Denver, Curry had four in the first quarter alone while struggling to find his shot.
Curry missed his first two attempts while committing two turnovers and picking up a personal foul before hitting a 19-foot jumper with 6:31 left in the first. He finished 2 for 6 in the first quarter, scoring four points in 12 minutes while primarily being defended by Green.
Curry’s first 3 came did not come until there was 7 minutes left in the first half.
The Warriors had plenty of offense without Curry, though.
Golden State raced to a 28-25 lead in the opening period by outscoring San Antonio 12-2 in the paint.
The Spurs started 1 for 9, with Green’s 3-pointer their only basket in the opening 4 minutes. Parker’s jumper with 7:17 left in the first broke the drought and pulled the Spurs within 11-5.
San Antonio shot 38 percent from the field in the first half, but kept the game close by going 13 for 14 on free throws compared to 5 for 10 by Golden State.
NOTES: Spurs F Tiago Splitter (ankle) missed his second-straight game of the playoffs. Splitter did not miss any games during the regular season due to injury, but sat out the finale to rest. … San Antonio G Nando De Colo was inactive. . Warriors W Brandon Rush (knee) missed the game. … Barnes was 5-years-old the last time Golden State won in San Antonio. … The national anthem was sung by Haley Scarnato, a former American Idol finalist and San Antonio native.
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