Down as many as 25 points, the Warriors — in conjunction with Kawhi Leonard’s injury — executed a historic rally past the Spurs in Game 1.
OAKLAND, Calif. — A memorable 18-0 third-quarter run sparked by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry — combined with the loss of San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, who re-aggravated his left ankle injur y — produced a historic 113-111 comeback victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
The Warriors trailed by as many as 25 points, and faced a 20-point deficit at the half. It’s the largest comeback win in a conference finals game since 2002, when the Boston Celtics came back from 26 down to beat the New Jersey Nets in Game 3. And it’s tied for the third-largest halftime comeback in NBA postseason history.
Curry recorded a game-high 40 points on 14-for-26 shooting and 7-of-16 from beyond the arc. Kevin Durant supplied 34 points and five rebounds.
But before Leonard’s exit, Golden State had dug themselves quite the hole.
Some early carelessness led to six first-quarter turnovers for the Warriors, and after coasting to two straight sweeps to open the postseason, Golden State had suddenly suffered its ugliest opening quarter of the playoffs.
Spurs forward Jonathon Simmons drained a 3-pointer to put his team up 12 late in the first. Curry sprinted up the floor and launched a questionable 32-footer that found nothing but air with 28 seconds left. Another Warriors turnover soon followed, resulting in a two-on-one transition advantage in which Aldridge finished with a dunk right before the first-quarter buzzer sounded.
The Spurs were up 30-16, and extended it to 25 midway in the second quarter.
A stunned Oracle Arena watched as the Warriors tried to fight their way out.
After Curry knocked down a pair of free throws in the second, he stole the inbounds pass and swished a right corner 3. For the first time all game, the crowd erupted as the Warriors capped an 11-0 run with 5: 05 left to play in the half. Golden State was down 14.
However, a 16-10 Spurs run to close out the half gave the visiting team a 20-point lead at intermission. Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge combined for 35 points in the first half, seven points less than the entire Warriors’ score.
The Warriors’ largest comeback win on the season was from 22 down against the Spurs on the road on March 29. According to ESPN’s In-Game Win Probability, the Warriors had an 11 percent chance of coming back and winning this game.
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But the odds would not be in the Spurs’ favor Sunday afternoon.
Early in the third, Leonard, who is already playing on a tender left ankle, slipped along the sideline after knocking down a 3-pointer and immediately came up hobbling down the court. Grimacing in pain, he signaled to come out. He did return to the contest shortly after, but experienced another setback when big man Zaza Pachulia landed on his left foot while he attempted a long 2.
Pachulia was whistled for the foul. Leonard could barely move. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year made his two free throws and then exited to the locker room limping severely and not able to return.
The Spurs had a 78-55 lead, but the Warriors smelled blood.
With Leonard out, the back-to-back defending conference champs proceeded on an electrifying 18-0 run that lasted a little under four minutes.
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Curry poured it on in the quarter, scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 from the field, 4-of-6 from deep to go with four boards and three assists. Golden State had rallied back within five with 4: 26 remaining in the quarter, setting up the stage to take the game in the fourth.
Golden State scored 42 points in the first half but scored 39 points in the third quarter alone. The Warriors held the Spurs to 21 points in the final 12 minutes. They scored 32.
Aldridge ended the game with 28 points and eight boards. Leonard put in 26 points and eight rebounds.
Game 2 is Tuesday.
