In perhaps the biggest matchup left on the NBA schedule, the Spurs set a blazing pace against the Warriors.
The Warriors and the Spurs have been out in front of the rest of the league for almost the entire season. The hold the two best records in the league, as well as the best point differentials. It seems all but certain that they’re headed for a matchup in the Western Conference Finals.
Their regular season matchups have been a bit of jabbing, with neither team seeming ready to tip their hand. Still, tonight’s matchup has importance as the two teams jockey for the number one seed in the West — the Warriors entered with a 2.5 game lead in the standings.
It seems likely that lead will shrink though, as the Spurs destroyed the Warriors in the first quarter. When the dust settled and a buzzer-beating jumper from Andre Iguodala had fallen, the Spurs led 33-17. Even that 16-point margin doesn’t indicate how in control the Spurs have looked.
San Antonio has led by as much as 21 and began the game on a 15-0 run. The Warriors’ big three — Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — combined to shoot 1-of-8 in the quarter and JaVale McGee even missed a dunk. Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge combined for 26 San Antonio points, shooting 10-of-19 from the field.
There’s a lot of time left but San Antonio looks like they’re going to keep pouring it on and if the margin stays this big, Golden State may just throw in the towel, take the loss and protect the health of their players.
Update (10:45 p.m. EST): Ian spoke to soon. The Warriors made it a ball game.
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Of course, take this game with a grain of salt. It’s still the regular season and none of this really matters to either team until we get to the playoffs.