Stephen Curry watched another lopsided win from the bench in sheer delight
Kevin Hogan Color Rush Jersey , wearing a sport coat and big smile.
The steady hands of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson certainly have made the two-time MVP’s absence far less daunting for the defending champions so far in these playoffs.
Durant sparked a decisive third-quarter run on the way to 32 points, Thompson added 31 points and five assists in another superb playoff performance and the Golden State Warriors rallied in the second half to beat the San Antonio Spurs 116-101 on Monday night for a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
As Curry remains out likely for the entire series nursing a sprained left knee, the Warriors used all the offensive power they had to take both home games in the best-of-seven series.
”No one can make up Steph’s contributions individually,” Thompson said. ”That’s got to be done as a team and even then it’s hard with the way he can shoot the ball.”
Thompson has found his touch after missing two weeks in March with a broken right thumb.
He followed up his brilliant 11-for-13 shooting day in a 113-92 Game 1 rout Saturday by hitting 12 of 20 shots. Durant also had six rebounds and six assists for the Warriors, who went without key backup big man David West down the stretch after he sprained his left ankle early in the fourth.
Coach Steve Kerr stuck with JaVale McGee as his starting center and the 7-footer contributed 10 points and seven rebounds as the well-rounded defending champions again showed off their remarkable depth.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 34 for the Spurs despite facing double-teams and Rudy Gay moved into the starting lineup and scored 12 points.
Game 3 is Thursday as the series shifts to San Antonio.
Thompson managed just three shots in the first quarter and began 1 for 5. He pounded the basketball down with two hands, frustrated, midway through the second quarter. Then he found his groove.
”He hit some tough shots off one leg and you know had some opportunity bounces,” Aldridge said. ”That’s why they are who they are. They made tough shots. KD made tough shots.”
A baseline 3 with 55.9 seconds left before halftime was his first of the night and got Golden State within 49-45 before the Spurs took a 53-47 lead at intermission.
Draymond Green began 0 for 5 before his first basket on the opening possession of the fourth quarter and Durant missed his five 3-point tries in the first half then finally hit from deep early in the third.
The Warriors opened the third on a 19-5 run to take charge but this time the Spurs didn’t go away.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich went with Gay in the starting lineup for Kyle Anderson in an effort to generate more scoring – and his team still struggled to make shots.
Popovich said before the game that Golden State in Game 1 played ”the most stifling defense we faced all year long. That was the best defensive 48 minutes that we have competed against all year long.”
Kerr knew Popovich would have his team better prepared.
And the Spurs showed higher intensity on both ends through the first half, working to keep the ball out of Durant’s hands or contest shots while jumping in passing lanes to force mistakes.
Andre Iguodala, the 2015 Finals MVP, started a second straight game and had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Warriors beat the Spurs for the 10th time in 11 games covering the regular season and playoffs.
San Antonio struggled from the floor for the second straight game, finishing 35 for 85 (41.2 percent). In Game 1
Bo Scarbrough Jersey Elite , the Spurs shot 40 just percent while going 9 for 22 from deep and got outrebounded 51-30.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Aldridge made all 12 of his free throws. … The Spurs missed 9 of their first 11 3s and were 4 for 28 from long range. … San Antonio lost its sixth straight games overall against the Warriors at Oracle Arena. … The Spurs took their first lead of the series, 18-17, with 4:20 left in the first quarter. They trailed from wire to wire in the series opener.
Warriors: Golden State outscored San Antonio 69-48 in the second half. … After getting 32 assists on 44 field goals in the series opener, the Warriors tallied 24 assists on 41 baskets. … Golden State has won nine straight postseason Game 2s, all at home, and 11 consecutive home playoff games overall.
RELIABLE WEST
West scored on three straight second-quarter possessions and finished with 10 points and four rebounds in 14 minutes.
But he got injured with 9:59 left defending Aldridge and headed to the locker room, despite appearing to try stretching out his legs to return.
”He had a really nice night,” Kerr said. ”I was concerned with that sprained ankle. We’ll see how he’s doing. We need him, but he told me he was doing OK.”
QUOTEABLE
Popovich on whether he saw potential in Kerr to coach during Kerr’s four years for San Antonio:
”Oh, sure, I mean are you kidding me? He played for Phil (Jackson) for 97 years and he learned a lot and won championships. … He’s a no-brainer.”
—
Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes II finally had a disagreement.
After calling off the final day of a mandatory three-day minicamp because of temperatures that were expected to hit triple digits, Reid breezed through the typical wrap-up questions from reporters.
He was eventually asked how long he intends to rest before beginning the ramp-up to training camp, and Reid said with a grin: "I'll step back for a little bit
Anthony Miller Jersey , kind of recharge and get ready to go. But I'm excited about getting back. I don't necessarily need to start tomorrow, but I'll be ready the next day."
A few minutes later, his new quarterback stood before reporters and answered a similar barrage of questions. And Mahomes, too, was also asked how long he intends to break before getting back to work.
"You go home and relax a little bit," he replied with a smile of his own," but you spend two days relaxing and you're like, 'All right, I'm ready for football again.'"
So one day for Reid. Two days for Mahomes.
It might be the first time since the Chiefs traded up to select Mahomes with the 10th overall pick in last year's draft that he and his coach have had a difference in approaches.
The two otherwise have been in lock-step, their words and actions nearly identical, whether in the meeting room or on the practice field.
It's the biggest reason why the Chiefs were so comfortable trading Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins after his Pro Bowl season, the best of his entire career, and happy to put the hopes of the franchise on the shoulders of a 22-year-old with one NFL start.
"You don't have to worry a lot about him
Colts Kemoko Turay Jersey ," Reid said. "I'm not worried that he's not going to look at his playbook. That's not where he's at. I want him to step back a minute," 鈥?two days would apparently be plenty 鈥?"and then he can do what he wants. Alex was the same way. You don't have to remind him to work."
In all, Reid was pleased with the work the entire team put in during its offseason program.
One year after he claimed to be "pummeled" by questions about some of his biggest stars skipping out on voluntary workouts, Reid had perfect attendance during organized team activities.
Even players who were recovering from injury or surgery were doing so at the Chiefs' practice facility, creating what Reid hopes is a sense of cohesiveness even before the team heads to St. Joseph, Missouri, next month.
Good thing, too. There will be plenty of jobs up for grabs at training camp.
"Just the fact that guys were here, you start kind of building that team thing," Reid said.
"They size up one another and see the competition. I think when all is said and done, (general manager) Brett Veach's going to have some tough decisions to make."
That includes finding a backup for Reid's new starting quarterback.
Mahomes is the only QB on the roster who was part of the team last season, putting him in an even more unique situation. But the Chiefs signed veterans Chad Henne and Matt McGloin along with undrafted free agent Chase Litton from Marshall, and they'll compete this fall for the backup jobs.
"I feel like it's been awesome with those guys
Authentic Rashaad Penny Jersey ," Mahomes said. "The guys that came in are working hard. We're competing everywhere. We compete in the weight room, little competitions on the field. But at the same time we're joking around a lot."
Indeed, there appeared to be a more relaxed vibe around the Chiefs this offseason, as if the roster turnover that sent some long-tenured veterans away and brought an influx of youth changed the atmosphere.
Not a laissez-faire attitude, though. More like a confident and efficient one.
So when Reid arrived at the practice facility Thursday, he took stock of a forecast calling for sunny skies and temperatures in the 90s. He considered the fact that the final day of minicamp is usually a light workout anyway, and that his guys had worked hard over the past few weeks.
Then he decided to release them early, confident that they'll be ready for training camp.
Even if they take more than one or two days off.
.