Game Preview: Spurs v Warriors

The Golden State Warriors head to the Lone Star State to take on the San Antonio
Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals at AT & T Center on Saturday
night. The Warriors hold a 2-0 lead in the series. The Warriors (2-0) took full
advantage of the absence of Kawhi Leonard (ankle) in Game 2 on Tuesday night,
blasting the Spurs by a 136-100 margin in a game that was essentially over by
the first quarter. Golden State jumped out to a 33-16 lead in the first 12
minutes that mushroomed to 72-44 by halftime. The Warriors wrapped up the night
with a 56.2 percent success rate from the field, including 48.6 percent from
three-point range. Stephen Curry led the way with 29 points, seven rebounds,
seven assists and three steals. Patrick McCaw followed with 18 points, five
assists, three rebounds and three steals over 27 minutes. Kevin Durant posted 16
points, three assists, two rebounds and one block. Draymond Green filled out the
stat sheet with 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and two
blocks. Klay Thompson managed 11 points, six boards and four assists. Shaun
Livingston and Ian Clark posted matching 10-point tallies off the bench. The
Spurs (0-2) had also played Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against
the Rockets without Leonard and still managed to rout Houston to clinch the
series. There was nothing resembling an encore in their Game 2 performance
against the Warriors, however, with Jonathon Simmons’ 22 points serving as the
team-high scoring total. Davis Bertans followed with a bench-leading 13 points,
which he supplemented with four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block.
LaMarcus Aldridge played a modest 27 points in the blowout, tallying eight
points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. Pau Gasol
contributed seven points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal. Patty Mills
and Danny Green supplied a pair of five-point efforts, while Dewayne Dedmon
registered a near double-double off the bench with nine points and nine rebounds
in 20 minutes. On the injury front for Game 3, Leonard remains questionable for
the contest after not having taken part in practice on Thursday. His status
likely won’t be decided until shortly before tip-off, but given the Spurs’ dire
circumstances, it’s naturally expected that he’ll do everything possible to take
the court. Andre Iguodala, who missed Game 2 with a sore left knee, too part in
practice Thursday and is therefore more on the probable side of questionable for
Saturday. Zaza Pachulia is also questionable with a right heel contusion he
suffered in Game 2, while Kevon Looney is doubtful with his hip injury.