Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Harrison Barnes came back to haunt the Golden State Warriors.
Barnes, a starter on the first Warriors championship team of this era, swished a 27-foot shot at the buzzer Wednesday night to give San Antonio a 114-111 win at Chase Center, delivering a potentially costly blow to Golden State’s playoff hopes.
One night earlier, the Warriors did what playoff contenders should do in the final week of the season: They overwhelmed a Phoenix Suns team playing without Kevin Durant.
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This time, the Warriors did exactly what playoff contenders can’t afford to do: They found a way to lose to a San Antonio Spurs team playing without Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox.
The Spurs, unlike the Suns, competed vigorously. San Antonio surged in the fourth quarter, wiping out a 12-point deficit and ultimately winning on Barnes’ shot over Jimmy Butler.
The loss dropped Golden State to 47-33 and into the No. 7 spot in the crowded Western Conference standings. The Warriors have two regular-season games remaining, Friday at Portland and Sunday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Stephen Curry scored 30 points, including five 3-pointers to push him past 300 for the season. Curry has made 300 or more shots beyond the arc six times in his career; no other NBA player has achieved the feat more than once.
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Butler added 28 points, including making 16 of 17 from the line. Draymond Green had 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
The Warriors led by a dozen entering the fourth quarter, only to see the Spurs come all the way back to take the lead on Stephon Castle’s layup with 3:07 left. San Antonio moved ahead again on Julian Champagnie’s 3-pointer at 2:06.
Butler converted two free-throw attempts with 49 seconds left to give the Warriors a two-point lead, but Keldon Johnson scored inside to tie the game at 109. A Golden State turnover and defensive breakdown led to another Johnson bucket and a two-point Spurs lead; Green then made two shots from the foul line to tie the game again with three seconds left.
That set the stage for Barnes to launch his improbable game-winner, wedged against the sideline near his team’s bench.
The Warriors trailed 55-51 after a disjointed first half. They came out sharp, making six long-distance shots on their way to a nine-point lead after the first quarter. The game looked like an encore to Tuesday night’s runaway win in Phoenix.
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San Antonio opened the second quarter on a 20-3 run. The Warriors suddenly looked shaky on defense, almost confused, and completely scattered on offense, repeatedly launching (and missing) 3-pointers late in the shot clock.
Former Warriors guard Chris Paul inflicted much of the damage for the Spurs, scoring 12 first-half points on 4-for-4 shooting from the field (including 3-for-3 from long range). Head coach Steve Kerr’s frustration with his team’s lifeless effort – and a non-call on one Curry drive – led to a rare technical foul on Kerr.
Golden State showed some life late in the second quarter, trimming its deficit to 55-51 at halftime. The Warriors were suitably miffed after the break, scoring the first six points of the third quarter to quickly reclaim the lead on a Moses Moody dunk.
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Reach Ron Kroichick: [email protected]; X: @ronkroichick
