In the Western Conference, it’s the NBA’s two best on record, the now hobbled second-seeded San Antonio Spurs versus the first-seeded Golden State Warriors. Now they have to deal with an engaged Warriors team that isn’t likely to sleepwalk through a half, as they did in Game 1.
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Pachulia left the game injured for a Warriors team already without key reserve forward Andre Iguodala, held out because of soreness in his left knee that limited him to 10 minutes in Game 1. Oh, down in San Antonio, it’s going to be more than a dogfight.
“He was sitting nicely on the sidelines”.
Popovich said the Spurs were “feeling sorry for themselves” after the controversial loss of Leonard, injured in Sunday’s game one when he landed on the foot of Warriors’ centre Zaza Pachulia in what the coach deemed a unsafe and unsportsmanlike play.
Juan Vazquez is suing the Warriors and center Zaza Pachulia, who’s late closeout re-injured Leonard’s left ankle, according to Nick Moyle of the San Antonio News-Express. “But I don’t know”.
The Golden State Warriors demolished a lifeless Spurs 136-100 on Tuesday in Oakland, California, to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Obviously, the attorney who filed the lawsuit knows he is not going to keep the Warriors out of San Antonio. All I care about is what I saw. He looked good, too. We’ve got nothing but respect for him. He said he’s strengthening and working on some things. Stephen Curry was racking up points and making ridiculous plays, just ask Dewayne Dedmon, en route to another MVP performance of a night. The last time they lost a series when up 2-0 was against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 Western semifinals.
Leonard acknowledged that there’s a fine line between playing with a little pain and risking further injury. This postseason, however, Aldridge hasn’t performed as expected, failing to be aggressive when San Antonio needs points. But we’ve got to be ready Game 3. He turned down shots.
The remainder of the game was played on even terms, Curry, Durant, and Green all resting for the final quarter. They are facing the NBA’s best team, which is playing at a higher level than nearly any team in league history.
Klay Thompson finished with 11 points, but was 4-of-10 from shooting with six rebounds, while Shaun Livingston and Ian Clark each had 10 points for Golden State to secure its 10th consecutive playoffs win this season.
Leonard attended Friday’s workout but didn’t participate.
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ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Golden State is being led by assistant coach Mike Brown while head coach Steve Kerr continues to deal with complications from back surgery, but Kerr watched the game from the locker room on Sunday and delivered the team a pep talk during halftime with the Warriors down 20 points.
