Game 1 between the Warriors and the Spurs will kick off the NBA playoffs. Here’s all the information you need on how to watch television or online.
No two teams have defined Western Conference dominance over the past three seasons like the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. However, this series will likely not be what it could have been. The Spurs won just 47 games this season, slipping all the way to the No. 7 seed. The Warriors won a robust 58 but even that was far below preseason expectations and enough for Houston to leapfrog them for the top seed.
Golden State will be playing without Stephen Curry for this series. Although they still have plenty of depth and talent, no one in the entire NBA creates easy shots for their teammates quite like Curry does. The team’s true shooting percentage is seven points higher when he’s on the floor, not just because of his shooting but because of the defensive attention he commands.
The Spurs will almost certainly be playing without Kawhi Leonard who has missed all but nine games this season. LaMarcus Aldridge has stepped up in his absence as the most prolific post scorer in the NBA. However, the Spurs grind-it-out style is a sharp contrast to Golden State’s and forcing the Warriors to slow down is a tall order.
Game 1 should give us a lot of information about how competitive this series will be. Here’s how you can watch.
Date: Saturday, Apr. 14
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Location: Oakland, CA
Venue: Vivint Smart Home Arena
TV Info: ABC
Live Stream: Watch live on FuboTV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial.
Next: All live stream info in one place
This is the first game of the playoffs this season. While it might not be the most competitive it should still provide plenty of fodder to whet your appetite for the games later in the day.