Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Monday 15 May 2017

Warriors rally for 113-111 win after Spurs lose Leonard

JANIE McCAULEY Losing Leonard could be a Spurs managed three of-
AP Sports Writer story of this series. He shot fensive rebounds before
OAKLAND, California (AP) 7 of 13 in 23 minutes to go scoring.
— Stephen Curry scored with eight rebounds and San Antonio had six steals
40 points and hit a tying three assists. He made all among the Warriors’ initial
3-pointer with 1:48 remain- 11 of his free throws. nine turnovers and Golden
ing as the Golden State He sat out Game 6 of the State wasn’t getting the
Warriors rallied from way last round against Houston, kind of easy shots it was
down after Kawhi Leonard a 39-point, series-clinching used to going almost un-
was lost to an ankle injury win on Thursday, after injur- tested the first two rounds.
to beat the San Antonio ing the ankle in a Game 5 Even when the Warriors did
Spurs 113-111 on Sunday in overtime victory. things right the Spurs an-
Game 1 of the NBA West- Durant has repeatedly swered.
ern Conference finals. spoken of elevating his Kerr watched the game
Draymond Green gave game when it matters from behind the scenes Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center left, and
Golden State the lead for most — and he do it at the in the arena a day after forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrate during the second half
good on a three-point play very moment the Warriors returning to the practice of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals
after the Warriors trailed by needed a huge lift on their floor for the first time in against the San Antonio Spurs in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, May
14, 2017.
as many as 25 points. home floor. more than three weeks.q Associated Press
Leonard left in the third His 3-pointer with 7:53 to
quarter after he re-injured play got Golden State
his left ankle and the War- within 94-88, then he drove
riors capitalized with an to his left and right by Kyle
18-0 run. Anderson for an emphat-
Kevin Durant scored 10 ic one-handed slam the
straight points during a next possession to ignite a
key fourth-quarter stretch deafening sellout crowd.
on the way to 34 points, Durant hit another 3 at the
while Zaza Pachulia had 11 6:10 mark and a jumper
points and nine rebounds. the next time down before
Leonard had 26 points and Shaun Livingston’s driving
eight rebounds. LaMarcus dunk.
Aldridge delivered anoth- Gregg Popovich lost to
er clutch playoff perfor- good friend and old pu-
mance with 28 points and pil Mike Brown, filling in as
eight boards. Warriors acting coach for
Somehow, these unusu- the ailing Steve Kerr — who
ally careless, cold-shooting played for Popovich.
Warriors found a way to Yet for much of the after-
keep their unblemished noon, the Spurs outplayed
postseason record alive at the Warriors on both ends
9-0. of the floor. They crashed
Game 2 in the series is Tues- the offensive glass as they
day night back at Oracle so like to do — something
Arena. Golden State stressed all
Curry scored 19 points in week — going right at de-
the third quarter and went fenders in the paint and
7 for 16 on 3s and 14 of 26 forcing the Warriors into
overall. tough shots. Even the open
Leonard first went down looks weren’t falling.
after stepping on a team- The Warriors missed their ini-
mate’s foot along the tial five 3-point tries before
bench after taking a shot. Curry hit 5:05 before half-
Pachulia later slid into him time to ignite a stunned-
as he came down from into-silence sellout crowd
shooting and Leonard fell as Golden State got within
into the Spurs bench, grab- 46-32.
bing his ankle. The next sequence the