With Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, and David Lee out, the Golden State Warriors looked like clear favorites to win Game 4 to advance to the NBA Finals, and they did just that. Through three games, they had been mostly dominant and continued to show that dominance in Game 4, cruising to a 129-115 victory.
Warriors take control early
The Warriors didn’t allow the Spurs to gain any confidence and momentum, shutting them down early with a 21-7 lead midway through the first quarter. Golden State held a 12-point lead to end the period led by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, who combined for the team’s 21 of 31 first quarter points.
The Warriors did not look back, displaying their explosive offense in the second quarter, and extending the lead to 14 by halftime. At the end of the third quarter, they had already captured an 18-point advantage, coasting to a 14-point triumph.
Any time the Spurs tried to make any type of run, the Warriors quickly responded to not allow the crowd to get into it. Ultimately, Curry put the game completely out of reach after hitting a few buckets, forcing Gregg Popovich to wave the white flag.
Manu Ginobili’s final game?
Could this have been Manu Ginobili’s final game in the league? San Antonio’s crowd believed that it could be Ginobili’s finale, so they cheered him on all game long. In exchange, Ginobili delivered with a 15-point, seven-assist performance on 50 percent shooting.
The crowd chanted his name up until the 39-year-old left the court. He even received a major standing ovation from the crowd and appreciation from the Warriors players late in the fourth quarter.
Box score
Kyle Anderson led the Spurs in scoring with 20 points, including six rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Patty Mills added 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists, and Pau Gasol contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists off the bench.
The Warriors were led by Curry, who scored 36 points, dished out six assists, and grabbed five rebounds, nailing five three-pointers as well on 14-of-24 shooting overall. Durant followed suit with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists on an incredible 10-of-13 shooting. Meanwhile, Draymond Green produced 16 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.
The Warriors shot 55.8 percent from the field while holding the Spurs to 42.3 percent shooting. They also out-rebounded San Antonio, 53-41. Both teams were great as far as moving the ball. The Warriors had 30 team assists, and the Spurs accumulated 33 team assists. On the contrary, the Warriors did not take care of the ball, amassing 17 turnovers. The Spurs only had eight turnovers, however, the Warriors were a +18 from three-point land.
It was a dominating performance for the Warriors, as they remain perfect in the playoffs through 12 games. The Warriors have now become Western Conference champions for three consecutive seasons, becoming the second team to accomplish that behind the Los Angeles Lakers, who have done it multiple times.
The Warriors will receive an extended rest before playing in the NBA Finals, which begin on Thursday, June 1st. They will play either the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers.
