SAN ANTONIO – Consistency has been the word used by the San Antonio Spurs to describe where this team is trying to get to. They beat the Golden State Warriors 111-105 with one of their, if not their most consistent games of the season.
"We worked very hard. We made a lot of mistakes against the best team in basketball, probably. You know, they're the defending NBA champs," said Gregg Popovich, Spurs head coach. "The effort was there for 48 minutes and we learned a lot hopefully, so that a good thing."
Recommended Videos
"Playing against the reigning champs. It was a great test for us to go out there and show what we are capable of when we play consistent at both ends," said DeMar DeRozan, who showed a little of his own consistency.
DeMar DeRozan on Spurs win over Warriors: 'Were playing for something big, we want to cont. to play as well as possible'..Also asked about people not believing in team..'got to thrive off of that, guys in our locker room, we dont pay attention to that' (📹@markmendez) #KSATsports pic.twitter.com/Na3QmiCMIK
— RJ Marquez (@KSATRJ) March 19, 2019
DeRozan scored 26 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists, once again knocking on the door of a triple-double.
"I'm always almost there, it's hard to crack," DeRozan said.
The Spurs worked their way to a 14-point lead in the first half, but in the third quarter the Warriors made their move as expected and thanks to six turnovers by the Spurs and a hot Stephen Curry finally finding the basket.
The Warriors cut the lead all the way down to two points, but the Spurs were able to hold them off down the stretch.
"They are always going to make runs. I don't know how well we handled them, but we didn't cave, that's for sure," Popovich said.
When all was said and done, Curry and Klay Thompson combined for a pretty dismal shooting night. They were only 14 for 43.
The Warriors average 118 points per game and the Spurs held them to just 105.
"Sometimes they just don't go in, but that wasn't really the story of the game," said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. "I just felt like we got outplayed, you know it's the hottest team in the league. [They are] obviously really well coached and they're executing. I thought they out-executed us, out-coached us and they deserve to win."
Klay Thompson on what the Spurs did defensively tonight to slow down Warriors: ‘Absolutely nothing, we just missed shots’ #KSATsports #NBA pic.twitter.com/Yeccxeg2Pi
— RJ Marquez (@KSATRJ) March 19, 2019
Steve Kerr said Spurs are “hungry” and fighting for playoff seeding...also said defense frustrated Warriors players and coaches some...make no mistake, GS wanted this one. Good win for SA...#KSATsports #NBA #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/xWr4dmJWAw
— RJ Marquez (@KSATRJ) March 19, 2019
The Spurs have now won 11 straight at home and nine straight overall, the longest current winning streak in the league.
For a team not picked to go far, they are moving in the right direction and getting better at just the right time.
"It's just winning time," said LaMarcus Aldridge, who scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. "I think everyone senses that, which is why everyone is trying to play better."