Curry, Poole, Thompson shoot Warriors past Spurs
SAN FRANCISCO -- Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole combined for 20 3-pointers with Curry scoring 33 points, Thompson 31 and Poole 27 to send the Golden State Warriors past the San Antonio Spurs 130-115 on Friday night.
Poole's first of six 3s gave Golden State three players with 200 or more 3-pointers this season — only the second team to do so. Just one other 3 was made by the rest of Golden State's players all night.
Curry shot 11 for 21 and 7 of 11 from deep, and Thompson also hit seven 3s as the defending champions stayed put in sixth place in the Western Conference standings. They have an identical 41-37 record to the fifth-place Clippers, who hold the tiebreaker based on divisional record.
This might have marked the final time Gregg Popovich faced off against dear friend, pupil and former assistant and player Steve Kerr. They shared a hug and some words after the final buzzer.
Golden State reserve Anthony Lamb delivered a timely left-handed block with 5:04 remaining on Malaki Branham's driving layup attempt.
Keldon Johnson scored 22 points off the bench, Branham had 19 points and seven rebounds and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 13 points and 11 rebounds in San Antonio's sixth straight loss overall and sixth in a row on the road.
Thompson pushed his NBA-leading 3-point shot total to 285 while helping the Warriors to a 43-point fourth quarter after trailing 88-87 heading into the final 12 minutes. They beat the Spurs for the fourth straight time and swept all three games of the season series.
Jonathan Kuminga drove through paint for a two-handed slam early in the fourth, then Curry hit from deep the next time down for a 95-90 lead before Poole's 3 from 29 feet.
Draymond Green dished out 11 of the Warriors' 37 assists.
THREE-POINT FEST
The Warriors are the first team to have three players reach 200 3s in the same season since Houston in 2016-17 — by James Harden, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson.
Poole missed his initial three from deep.
PRAISING POP
Kerr has imagined any game might be his last with pal Popovich on the opposite bench. He cherishes each meeting.
"I mean the last couple of years, I've wondered. I think we faced the Spurs in San Antonio last year when it was their last home game and I thought that might have been it and I think it's just going to be strange whenever he does decide to hang it up," Kerr said before the game. "It'll be strange not seeing him on the sidelines. We've all sort of taken it for granted for a long time now but what he's meant to the league and to so many of us, it will definitely be a sad day when he retires."
TIP-INS
Spurs: Popovich heard former C LaMarcus Aldridge announced his retirement and plans a wine-themed gift. ... The Spurs have dropped six of the last eight matchups with the Warriors.
Warriors: Kerr had no update on Andrew Wiggins and when the star forward might return. He missed his 21st straight game dealing with a family matter. ... Kevon Looney grabbed nine rebounds and two more offensive boards to give him 255 on that end.
UP NEXT
Warriors: At Denver on Sunday having lost the last two to the Nuggets and five of six.
