5 things to watch: Spurs vs. Warriors Game 2

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

The San Antonio Spurs (5-0) will look to defend homecourt against the Golden State Warriors (4-3) tonight at the AT&T Center for Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinal series.

The Spurs are coming off a thrilling double-overtime comeback 129-127 win in Game 1. Tony Parker finished with 28 points to lead the Spurs while Manu Ginobili nailed he game-winning three-pointer to wrap up the Game 1 win. Warriors' Stephen Curry finished with 44 points to lead Golden State.

 Momentum is on the Spurs side while the Warriors'' mental focus will be in the spotlight tonight.

And as the Spurs look to give the Warriors their 31st loss in a row in San Antonio, here are five things to watch for during tonight's contest:

• The Spurs became just the second team in the playoffs to shoot 50 percent-or-better from the field and three-point territory in the same game, as the Spurs shot 51.2 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc vs. Lakers in the first round.

• In the third quarter, Warriors' Stephen Curry is averaging 12.3 points on 69.6 percent from the floor and 65.4 percent from three-point line.

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Leonard's defense on Curry key in comeback

Written by Trevor Zickgraf on .

So that was kind of weird what happened in Game 1.  It's not every day you see a 16-point deficit turn in to a double overtime victory.

Still, that happened and while there wasn't one silver bullet that sparked the comeback, it did help that Stephen Curry stopped making shots in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter. 

Part of Curry's woes had to do with Kawhi Leonard switching on to him, making it difficult for him to get some clean looks.  After the game, Tony Parker praised Leonard's efforts to contain Curry after he went bananas in the third quarter.

"Kawhi was huge. We tried to alternated between Danny (Green), Kawhi and myself to try to give him different looks and make it tough on him. You just try and do the best you can," Parker said. "He's a great shooter. I thought Kawhi in the second half, especially in  the fourth quarter, did a great job on him."

Stephen Curry is a problem, but Spurs must answer Klay Thompson first

Written by Jesse Blanchard on .

In the midst of his first playoff run, and a brilliant one at that, the Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry has emerged as one of the most uniquely USA Today Sportspotent threats in the NBA.

Among all NBA players, perhaps only Kevin Durant can access such a dangerously accurate shot in such a variety of ways. Coming off screens, in transition, spotting up for catch and shoot three-pointers, and even dangerous off the dribble in isolation, the moment either player crosses half court the defense must mark them as a threat to shoot, regardless of the situation.

While Curry lacks the length and athleticism of Durant, he compensates with elite ball handling and premium court vision and passing. He also possesses one very important advantage that Durant currently lacks, one that could make a difference in his series against the Spurs: the Warriors protect Stephen Curry as much as they rely on him.

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Spurs top 3 adjustments heading into Game 2

Written by Quixem Ramirez on .

The odds of San Antonio winning Game 1, faced with a 16-point deficit and 271 seconds remaining, were slim. 1-200, actually.

You're better off betting on the Charlotte Bobcats to win the NBA Finals next year. 
 
What ensued was a few lucky bounces, pesky defense, excellent execution and Stephen Curry's untimely cold streak. The Spurs defied the odds -- a familiar sight for Warriors fans, who are hoping for at least one pivotal road victory this series, which would be a first during the Tim Duncan era.
 
The narrow victory, replete with late-game heroics, means that Golden State can compete in a hostile environment. How exactly should the Spurs counter in Game 2?
 
Defend Curry with Leonard
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As Game 1 proved, Ginobili expects tough series from Warriors

Written by Michael A. De Leon on .

Manu GinobiliFollowing the play-by-play of last night’s double OT thriller on Twitter, Manu Ginobili went from being cursed for taking an ill-advised shot from way beyond the three-point line to being the savior to the next minute after hitting a high-arching three to save homecourt advantage and assuring a 16-point comeback wasn’t all for naught.

While the play wasn’t originally called for Ginobili, especially after potentially giving up the game at the end of the second overtime, he did what Manu does and adjusted to what presented itself, going from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s doghouse to possibly having Pop serve him a frittata early this morning

"I went from trading him on the spot to wanting to cook him breakfast tomorrow. That's the truth,” Popovich said in his postgame presser last night. “When I talk to him and say 'Manu' he goes 'this is what I do". That's what he's going to tell me. I stopped coaching him a long time ago.”

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Will the real 'Screaming Spurs Fan' please stand up

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

By now you heard of the "Screaming Spurs Fan" that nearly overshadowed the San Antonio Spurs dramatic Game 1 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Her piercing shrill overpowered the TNT broadcast and she became an Internet sensation overnight. However, a couple of women are claiming to be the infamous screamer.

First off, 1250 ESPN SA's Jason Minnix and Dat Nguyen of "The Blitz" were able to track down a woman claiming to be the shrieking lady and apparently it is Laurie Aguilar of San Antonio.

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Klay Thompson looking for redemption in Game 2

Written by Kyle Boenitz on .

The comeback by the San Antonio Spurs last night was one of the greatest team performances I’ve ever seen. The game will go down as one of the best of all time… and it was only Game 1 in this best of seven series.

To watch a lead slip away like that has to be extremely demoralizing for the Golden State Warriors. It was more than just an opportunity to steal a game on the road, the win was practically giftwrapped for them, and they let it slip away.

If you’re the Warriors, you try to take something positive away from the loss, like the fact that you managed to get a big lead on the road against a team that’s supposed to beat you. Warriors guard Klay Thompson is already looking forward to Game 2.

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(Photo) Spurs balloon figure is quite creepy

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

While the San Antonio Spurs were battling it out versus the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 last night, in the concourse of the AT&T Center was a Spurs-balloon figure with a strange leer and looking quite creepy.

Check out this nightmare fuel-looking balloon figure from last night's Spurs game. I wonder how many kids ran the other way upon seeing this standing in the concourse. Maybe this is what the "Screaming Lady" was screaming about during last night's Spurs-Warriors game.

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Positive signs for both Spurs and Warriors heading into Game 2

Written by Paul Garcia on .

AT&T Center – “ We knew we could come back,” said San Antonio Spurs forward Boris Diaw early Tuesday morning, after the Spurs had made a remarkable comeback from down 18-points to defeat the Golden State Warriors 129-127 in double overtime. “We knew it would just take some stops, which we were actually trying to get the whole game.”

A handful of Spurs players mentioned that they just needed to keep fighting and making stops, and an eventual come back would be possible.

If you talked to Warriors guard Stephen Curry, he too is confident as are his teammates that the Warriors can still steal a game in San Antonio.

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Video: Ginobili's Game 1 winning shot vs. Warriors gets the 'Phantom' treatment

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

Words can hardly describe last night's San Antonio Spurs-Golden State Warriors Game 1 thrilling double-overtime game. After building a seemingly insurmountable lead (18 points), Warriors began to see their lead slip as the Spurs stormed back.

And when it mattered the most, veteran Manu Ginobili was there to save the day despite having an off night. Manu was 4-19 from the field and 1-8 from the three-point line before putting the proverbial nail in the coffin for Golden State. However, when he squared up for the winning shot, it was nothing but net.

Check out Ginobili's clutch shot in Game 1 via the lens of the NBA's "Phantom" camera.

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