Warriors at Spurs
The Golden State Warriors have yet to lose in the postseason and certainly didn't look like a team that was on the verge of taking its first 'L' while blasting the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday. The Spurs had a few days off to get healthy and try to put the 136-100 thrashing behind them and will get the chance to play host when the series shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on Saturday.
The Spurs watched Game 1 turn when superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard went down with an ankle injury and are hoping he can return to the lineup for Game 3, though a change in attitude is necessary whether or not Leonard is on the floor. "I don't think they believed," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told reporters after watching his team get crushed in Game 2. "And you have to believe. I don't think as a group they really did, which means probably a little bit feeling sorry for themselves psychologically, subconsciously, whatever psycho-babble word you want to use. … That was disappointing." The Warriors are feeling pretty good about themselves after shooting 56.2 percent from the floor in Game 2 while holding the Spurs to 37 percent. "We just came out and played our game," Golden State forward Kevin Durant told reporters. "We moved the ball. Everybody touched it and felt good about themselves, and that generated some good looks."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Durant and point guard Stephen Curry were both named to the All-NBA second team on Thursday while forward Draymond Green was a third-team selection. All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson was left off the All-NBA teams and is one of the few Golden State players struggling in the postseason while averaging 14.6 points on 38.8 percent shooting - down from 22.3 points on 46.8 percent shooting in the regular season. "When you look around, what did we win? Sixty-seven games or something like that? And we probably just handed teams three or four," Green told reporters when asked about Thompson missing out on an All-NBA team. "You're talking a possible 70-win season. I think Klay is one of our top three guys, and to not be on an All-NBA team, I think it's pretty crazy."
ABOUT THE SPURS: Leonard is the only player in the series to make the All-NBA first team but sat out two of the last three playoff games due to left ankle issues and did not do any on-court work while reporters were at the San Antonio practice facility on Thursday. If Leonard is limited or unable to go, the Spurs will need more from LaMarcus Aldridge, who managed eight points on 4-of-11 shooting in Game 2. "LaMarcus has to score for us," Popovich told reporters. "He can't be timid. He turned down shots in the first quarter. He can't do it. You've got to score. Scoring has to come from some place."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Warriors SF Andre Iguodala (knee) sat out Game 2 and is questionable for Game 3.
2. Spurs SG Jonathan Simmons started in place of Leonard in Game 2 and scored a team-high 22 points to boost his average to 14.1 points over the last eight postseason games.
3. Golden State coach Steve Kerr, who has not been on the sidelines since the first round while battling complications from back surgery, traveled to San Antonio with the team.