Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors was played on Saturday night. The Spurs hosted the Warriors at AT&T Center in front of a sellout crowd of 19,000 fans, hoping that their team could hand the Warriors their first loss of the postseason. Golden State came into Saturday's matchup having won 10 straight playoff games this year and with a comfortable 2-0 lead in this series.
Considering that the Spurs were playing without their leading scorer Kawhi Leonard in Game 3 and also without Tony Parker, anything but an 11th straight Warriors victory would've been a surprise.
Big second quarter lifts the Warriors
San Antonio opened up the game with a great first quarter as they scored 33 points in the period and held a 33-29 lead. Already without the services of Leonard and Parker, the Spurs lost David Lee to a left knee injury in the opening quarter. Lee left with 2:57 remaining in the first period and did not return. It was in the second quarter of Saturday's game that Golden State started to pull away.
Midway through the second period the score was tied at 49-49 before the Warriors went on a 12-0 run to take a 61-49 lead.
At halftime, Golden State had a 64-55 lead and never looked back. They outscored the Spurs in the third quarter as well, and Kevin Durant scored 19 of Warriors' 36 points in the period. Heading into the final quarter of the game, Golden State held a 100-88 lead. The teams went back-and-forth in the final period and Golden State ended up winning the game easily, 120-108. They finished the game with 23 team assists and shot 11-for-27 from behind the arc. San Antonio was just 5-for-21 from the three-point line.
Durant leads the way with 33 points
After scoring 16 points in Game 2, Kevin Durant responded with 33 points in Game 3.
He finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, while shooting 11-for-19 from the field. Stephen Curry added 21 points and five assists, while Klay Thompson contributed with 17 points. Javale McGee played a great game also for the Warriors, as he scored 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting.
For the shorthanded San Antonio Spurs, it was Manu Ginobili who led them in scoring on Saturday night. Ginobili scored 21 points in 18 minutes of play, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points and five rebounds. Pau Gasol contributed with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs.
Golden State now holds a convincing 3-0 series lead and will have the chance to advance to the NBA Finals in Game 4 on Monday night.