The Golden State Warriors showcased a dominant performance on Sunday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 148-106 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. This victory not only improved the Warriors' road trip record to 2-2 but also propelled them back into the No. 6 playoff position in the Western Conference.
The Warriors exploded out of the gate, scoring 44 points in the first quarter, which marked their highest scoring quarter of the season. They shot an impressive 57.7 percent from the floor, hitting 56 of 97 attempts, and drained 21 of 44 from beyond the arc. The previous high for points in a game this season was 140, achieved against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 23, 2024.
Brandin Podziemski led the charge for Golden State, finishing the game with 27 points, which included a career-high seven 3-pointers on just nine attempts. He was well supported by Moses Moody, who chipped in 20 points with three 3-pointers, and Buddy Hield, who added 19 points. Draymond Green contributed 14 points, while both Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry scored 13 points each.
“We’ve been talking about getting off to better starts and we got off to a great start,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “The offense was pretty crisp, and the guys did a good job defensively. That set the tone for the whole night.”
The Warriors' performance was particularly noteworthy for their teamwork; out of their 56 field goals, 42 were assisted, and they committed only 12 turnovers throughout the game. With this win, the Warriors improved their record to 42-31, while the Spurs fell to 31-43.
Despite the Warriors' success, the Spurs were missing key players, including 7-foot-3 phenom Victor Wembanyama, who is sidelined due to a blood clot, and guard De’Aaron Fox, who is out with a torn tendon. Coach Gregg Popovich also missed the game due to a minor stroke.
The Warriors maintained a comfortable lead throughout the game, leading 68-44 at halftime. They showcased one of their best halves of the season, shooting 70.8 percent in the first quarter and continuing to control the pace of the game. Podziemski had already set a career high with six 3-pointers by the end of the third quarter, where the Warriors led by a staggering 38 points at 111-73.
“There was an emphasis on moving the ball, getting easy early shots, and then playing good defense and kind of putting the two things together,” Podziemski commented post-game. “We had two bad shooting nights in a row in Miami and New Orleans, so it had to come around at some point and tonight was the night.”
The final quarter saw the Warriors continue to extend their lead, with the biggest cheer coming when Kevon Looney, who had not made a 3-pointer all season, finally got in on the action, hitting a three-pointer in the fourth quarter. Looney humorously remarked, “Steve finally drew up a play for me, so I had to shoot it.”
As the game progressed, the Warriors' chemistry was evident. They have now won 18 of their last 23 games since acquiring Butler, and they are undefeated at 11-0 with the current starting lineup of Butler, Curry, Green, Moody, and Podziemski. All five players reached double figures in scoring by the start of the fourth quarter.
The Spurs were led by Keldon Johnson, who scored 19 points, while Sandro Mamukeleshvili added 14 points and Devin Vassell contributed 12 points. However, the Spurs struggled to keep pace with the Warriors, who were firing on all cylinders.
Looking ahead, the Warriors have a crucial matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, before facing the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Both games hold significant playoff implications as the regular season winds down.
After the game, Kerr expressed his relief at seeing Popovich, who he played for during his own career, and shared his optimism regarding the coach's recovery from his recent health scare. “I saw him today and he looks great, doing great,” Kerr said. “He’s one of the most important people in my life and I’m hoping everything continues to progress.”
The Warriors' impressive win against the Spurs not only boosts their playoff hopes but also highlights their offensive prowess and depth as they prepare for the final stretch of the season. With their sights set on a strong playoff run, fans will be eager to see how they carry this momentum into their upcoming games.
