Warriors come out flat, can’t sweep the Spurs

It took three straight blowouts, but the San Antonio Spurs finally woke up — and it didn’t hurt that the Warriors’ 3-point stroke went to sleep.

Golden State fell to the Spurs 103-90 in Game 4 to force a Game 5 back at Oracle Arena.

Warriors starters went just 7-of-26 from 3, while the Spurs finally started hitting their 3’s and their starters finished 11-of-21, including a dagger banked-3 from LaMarcus Aldridge, and that was the difference in the game.

The Warriors cut it to deficit to six with just over two minutes to go, but all their open 3’s clanked, while Manu Ginobili swished his attempts to put the game away.

Klay Thompson cooled off after being a walking blaze of fire scoring just 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting, and was a team worst minus-18.

Kevin Durant tried to make up for his teammates struggles as he finished with 34 points and 13 boards, but even he was an inefficient 4-of-13 from deep.

The Spurs led from the tip, and anytime the Warriors chipped away at the lead there was a turnover or a missed open shot to set them right back. They finished with 18 turnovers, which led directly to 21 Spurs points and many of them being of the backbreaking, run-halting variety.

Now the scene shifts back to Oakland. Though a sweep would have been nice, the loss might actually help the Warriors.

If they actually lose one more and finish the series in six games, that would push back the start of the second round against the Pelicans — which would give Stephen Curry a few more days to heal up.

And this team needs Curry, not this round and but maybe against New Orleans who just dismantled Portland.

Up next

The Warriors look to wrap up the series in the confines of their own arena Tuesday.

Notes

Shaun Livingston played 21 minutes despite rolling his ankle in Game 3, it was a good sign for the Warriors that both he and Durant looked normal after that scary scene to end the previous game.

Curtis Uemura is SFBay’s Golden State Warriors beat writer. Follow @SFBay and @CUemura on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of Warriors basketball.