Remember the Alamodome: Warriors dominate Spurs amidst NBA’s largest crowd, 144-113
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Sat, 14 Jan 2023
68,323 loyal, die-hard San Antonio fans went home satisfied, despite the Warriors blowing out the Spurs, 144-113, Friday night.
There were some heartwarming stories that tugged at every fan's hearts before, during and after tonight’s historic game, that’s why.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr notched his 450th career win as a coach against his former team led by mentor, and now friendly adversary, Gregg Popovich.
Coach Pop could not have been more proud of Coach Kerr who became the fifth fastest in league history to reach the coaching milestone.
The Spurs’ legendary Admiral David Robinson, with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker at the sideline, re-emerged in the fourth quarter and announced that tonight’s crowd set a historic record with 68,323 in attendance, surpassing the 62,046 who saw Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls play the Atlanta Hawks at the Georgia Dome back in 1998.
San Antonio now call AT&T Center home, but tonight was a chance for nostalgia as the Spurs celebrated the franchise's 50th anniversary inside the Alamodome— site of their glory days as 5-time NBA champions (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014).
It was extra special for Jordan Poole who led the Warriors with 25 and Donte DiVincenzo who added 22 points.
We can recall that Poole and DiVincenzo were on opposite teams that vied for the 2018 NCAA crown at the cavernous arena.
Oh, yes, about the game…
In an all-around effort, eight players posted double-figures for the Warriors who fielded a healthy starting five—Andrew Wiggins scored 16, Klay Thompson 16, Steph Curry 15, Kevin Looney with 14 and 10 dishes for a double-double, Anthony Lamb 13, Moses Moody 12, and for good measure Draymond Green added 6 and Andre Iguodala 5 points.
As a team, Golden State made 55-of-101 baskets (54.5% FG), 18-of-48 treys (37.5% 3-PT), scored more in the paint (70 to 50), were quicker with more fast break points (21 tob13), controlled both boards with more total rebounds (55 to 38), stole more (9 to 6), blocked more (6 to 3), had less turnovers (13 to 15), and led as much as 38 points with 2:29 left. Though a bit more aggressive, if not careless, the Warriors committed more fouls, 26-19, but their offensive juggernaut negated their foul troubles. Golden State seemingly scored at will with everyone scoring from all angles.
The Warriors, who are now 4-16 away from home, bounced back from a 3-game skid with tonight’s valuable win to jump start their 5-game road trip; they are back at 21-21 in a bunched up Western Conference. Golden State will display their 2022 trophy with a visit to the White House to meet President Joe Biden next week.
By contrast, the young guns of San Antonio, as a team, made lesser buckets converting 40-of-88 baskets (45.5% FG), fewer treys sinking 8-of-22 from downtown (36.4% 3-PT), had slightly more points after turnovers (20 to 18), and led by one point for only 47 seconds in the first minute of the game.
Tre Jones had 21 points and Keldon Johnson added 17 points for the unsuccessful San Antonio, which has lost four straight and 7-of-their-last-8.
The Spurs are in the middle of a rebuilding process with 3 first-round rookie picks in the recent NBA draft, i.e. Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and 1 second-round draftee in Kennedy Chandler.
The look and sound of tonight’s crowd underscored the meaning of tonight’s historic game. The Spurs may be struggling this season, but they remain valuable commodities in these rough times for basketball fans everywhere and the City of San Antonio.
Just as the Warriors did, every Spurs player also scored, though in a losing effort. Rare is the game when the ball is shared all the way around.
Upcoming:
Golden State Warriors (21-21): Visit the Chicago Bulls (19-23) on Sunday
San Antonio Spurs (13-29): Visit the Sacramento Kings (23-18) on Sunday
Note of Appreciation:
Photos, stats and video are courtesy of the NBA and brought to you by PhilBoxing.com.
