Game ID: 22300051
San Antonio Spurs @ Golden State Warriors
Friday, November 24, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
GSW 32 27 27 32 118SAS 35 20 26 31 112
GSW vs SAS ScoutingGSW vs SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
GSW availability going into 11/16 · 1 day's restOUT Quinones missed 8 since 11/01, returns tonight: 4 min (40% of 11)
BACK Joseph back 11/11 after 2, 8 min since (68% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Looney 16 to 26 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/18 · 1 day's restOUT Curry missed 2 since 11/14, returns tonight: 40 min (123% of 33)
BACK Joseph back 11/11 after 2, 12 min since (105% of 11)
BACK Quinones back 11/16 after 8, 4 min since (40% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Looney 16 to 25 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 2 since 11/16, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 40 min since (123% of 33)
BACK Joseph back 11/11 after 2, 12 min since (105% of 11)
BACK Quinones back 11/16 after 8, 4 min since (40% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Looney 16 to 26 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 3 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Joseph missed 2 since 11/18, returns tonight: 16 min (142% of 11)
OUT Quinones missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 38 min since (115% of 33)
NEW Paul 26 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Šarić 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Looney 16 to 25 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 4 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 3 since 11/18, returns tonight: 18 min (119% of 16)
OUT Quinones missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 34 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 16 min since (142% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Looney 16 to 25 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Green missed 5 since 11/16, returns tonight: 33 min (123% of 27)
OUT Quinones missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 34 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Payton II back 11/24 after 3, 18 min since (119% of 16)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 16 min since (142% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Looney 16 to 23 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Quinones missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Curry back 11/18 after 2, 35 min since (107% of 33)
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 33 min since (123% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 11/24 after 3, 18 min since (113% of 16)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 12 min since (106% of 11)
NEW Looney 16 to 25 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson-Davis missed 2 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 6 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 31 min since (115% of 27)
BACK Payton II back 11/24 after 3, 18 min since (113% of 16)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 15 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 24 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Wiggins missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 27 min (101% of 27)
OUT Paul missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 20 min (78% of 26)
OUT Jackson-Davis missed 3 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Payton II missed 2 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Quinones missed 7 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Green back 11/28 after 5, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Joseph back 11/22 after 2, 15 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Šarić 17 to 22 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/17 · 2 days' restOUT Jones missed 2 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Wesley missed 3 since 11/10, returns tonight: 4 min (26% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 6 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/08 after 2, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 31 min since (155% of 20)
BACK Graham back 11/06 after 6, 15 min since (107% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 11/06 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 13)
SAS availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backOUT Jones missed 3 since 11/12, returns tonight: 21 min (77% of 28)
OUT Cissoko missed 7 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/08 after 2, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 28 min since (141% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 11/17 after 3, 4 min since (26% of 14)
BACK Graham back 11/14 after 3, 17 min since (126% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 11/14 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 13)
NEW Johnson 30 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Collins 22 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Vassell missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 8 since 11/05, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 12)
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 21 min since (77% of 28)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 25 min since (128% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 11/17 after 3, 4 min since (26% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 11/14 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 13)
NEW Johnson 30 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Collins 22 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Vassell missed 3 since 11/17, returns tonight: 27 min (81% of 33)
OUT Wesley missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 22 min since (80% of 28)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 25 min since (125% of 20)
BACK Barlow back 11/14 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 11/20 after 8, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Collins 22 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 4 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/22 after 3, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 21 min since (77% of 28)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 25 min since (125% of 20)
BACK Barlow back 11/14 after 2, 6 min since (44% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 11/20 after 8, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Collins 22 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Champagnie missed 2 since 11/22, returns tonight: 17 min (85% of 20)
OUT Wesley missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 5 since 11/17, returns tonight: 6 min (48% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/22 after 3, 27 min since (82% of 33)
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 20 min since (73% of 28)
NEW Collins 22 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/30 · 3 days' restOUT Wesley missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/22 after 3, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 21 min since (74% of 28)
BACK Champagnie back 11/26 after 2, 17 min since (85% of 20)
BACK Graham back 11/26 after 5, 6 min since (48% of 14)
SAS availability going into 12/01 · back-to-backOUT Wesley missed 6 since 11/18, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 14)
OUT Barlow missed 3 since 11/24, returns tonight: 3 min (22% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/22 after 3, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Champagnie back 11/26 after 2, 18 min since (93% of 20)
BACK Graham back 11/26 after 5, 6 min since (48% of 14)
NEW Collins 22 to 28 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/06 · 4 days' restOUT McDermott missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 22 min (145% of 15)
OUT Graham missed 2 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/22 after 3, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Champagnie back 11/26 after 2, 20 min since (99% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 12/01 after 6, 3 min since (19% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/01 after 3, 3 min since (22% of 13)
NEW Collins 22 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Wiggins at 15 a game. Without Green (4 straight), Payton II (3 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Collins at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 38 percent from three to San Antonio's 33. Call it Golden State 119, San Antonio 111.
11/16 vs OKC 109-128 — GSW notes
GSW lost 109-128. GSW took 11 more shots (98 to 87), fed by 20 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to OKC's 51%, 14 of 41 from three. Kuminga led with 21 (8 of 13, 1 of 4 from three); Paul added 15, Podziemski 13. Q2 was theirs, 36-28, the deficit cut from 15 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 100-73 against them. Podziemski's -26 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/18 vs OKC 123-130 — GSW notes
GSW lost 123-130 in 1 overtime. GSW shot 45% (44 of 97) to OKC's 52%, 18 of 46 from three. GSW turned it over 16 times to OKC's 10, and OKC turned those into 8 steals. Wiggins led with 31 (12 of 19, 5 of 8 from three); Curry added 25, Thompson 16. Q2 was theirs, 30-18, turning a 2-point deficit into a 10-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 112-93 against them. They led by as many as 18. Kuminga's -18 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 vs HOU 121-116 — GSW notes
GSW won 121-116. GSW shot 47% (36 of 77) to HOU's 46%, 21 of 43 from three, and went to the line 33 times to HOU's 19 — 28 points from the stripe to their 15. Curry led with 32 (8 of 14, 5 of 9 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Thompson added 20, Šarić 18. The hinge was Q2, 34-26: a lead of 2 became 10. Paul was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
11/22 @ PHX 115-123 — GSW notes
GSW lost 115-123. GSW took 14 more shots (90 to 76), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to PHX's 45%, 10 of 32 from three, and got to the line 29 times to PHX's 52. Thompson led with 23 (8 of 17, 6 of 10 from three); Šarić added 17, Curry 16. Q4 was theirs, 40-32, the deficit cut from 16 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 91-75 against them. Thompson's -24 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 vs SAS 118-112 — GSW notes
GSW won 118-112. GSW shot 49% (40 of 81) to SAS's 45%, 19 of 42 from three, and went to the line 24 times to SAS's 12 — 19 points from the stripe to their 10. GSW turned it over 24 times to SAS's 19, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. Curry led with 35 (11 of 20, 7 of 14 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Šarić added 20, Thompson 15. The hinge was Q2, 27-20: GSW came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 18. Paul was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
11/28 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 21 a game. Without Murray (2 straight), Ellis (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Thompson at 16 a game. Without Green (5 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Sacramento 118, Golden State 115, Golden State keeping it close.
11/30 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Thompson at 19 a game. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and George at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 107 a night to Golden State's 121 and the arc, Golden State at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 34. Call it Golden State 115, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/02 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 23 and George at 20 a game. Without Tucker (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 29 free throws a game; Curry at 28 and Thompson at 20 a game. Without Jackson-Davis (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 14 times a game to the Clippers' 9 and the arc, Golden State at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 35. Call it the Clippers 116, Golden State 112, Golden State keeping it close.
12/06 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 19 a game. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Paul (2 straight), Jackson-Davis (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 22 and Brogdon at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Simons (18 straight), Murray (4 straight), Mays (4 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-1 a night and Portland minus-7 and the defense, Portland allowing 107 a night to Golden State's 117. Call it Golden State 114, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
11/17 vs SAC 120-129 — SAS notes
SAS lost 120-129. SAS shot 47% (43 of 92) to SAC's 54%, 15 of 36 from three. Collins led with 28 (10 of 14, 3 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Wembanyama added 27, Johnson 21. Q1 was theirs, 31-29, but the other 3 periods went 100-89 against them. They led by as many as 18. Wembanyama's -31 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/18 vs MEM 108-120 — SAS notes
SAS lost 108-120. SAS shot 43% (36 of 83) to MEM's 47%, 15 of 40 from three, and got to the line 26 times to MEM's 36. Johnson led with 22 (8 of 14, 4 of 7 from three); Wembanyama added 19, Sochan 16. Q1 was theirs, 35-26, but the other 3 periods went 94-73 against them. They led by as many as 19. Osman's -21 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 vs LAC 99-124 — SAS notes
SAS lost 99-124. SAS shot 43% (39 of 90) to LAC's 47%, 10 of 38 from three, and got to the line 14 times to LAC's 25. SAS turned it over 16 times to LAC's 7, and LAC turned those into 15 steals. Johnson led with 22 (9 of 16, 2 of 8 from three); Osman added 17, Collins 12. Q3 was theirs, 22-25, but the other 3 periods went 99-77 against them. Collins's -25 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 vs LAC 102-109 — SAS notes
SAS lost 102-109. SAS shot 38% (35 of 91) to LAC's 46%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 23 times to LAC's 29. Wembanyama led with 22 (7 of 13, 7 of 7 at the line); Sochan added 19, Vassell 18. Q2 was theirs, 34-28, the deficit cut from 12 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 81-68 against them. Osman's -18 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ GSW 112-118 — SAS notes
SAS lost 112-118. SAS took 19 more shots (100 to 81), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to GSW's 49%, 12 of 47 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 18 fouls committed. SAS turned it over 19 times to GSW's 24. Vassell led with 24 (10 of 19, 4 of 10 from three); Wembanyama added 22, Johnson 22. Q1 was theirs, 35-32, but the other 3 periods went 86-77 against them. They led by as many as 10. Jones's -10 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Porter Jr. at 18 a game. Without Murray (9 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 120, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Wembanyama at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Champagnie (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 114 a night to San Antonio's 120 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 13. Call it Denver 116, San Antonio 109.
11/30 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 121, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. 3 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Young at 31 and Bogdanović at 19 a game. Without Johnson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 39 percent from three to San Antonio's 31 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 121 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Atlanta 122, San Antonio 119, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/01 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 29 and Ingram at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vassell at 22 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 110 a night to San Antonio's 124 and the line, where New Orleans takes 28 free throws a game to San Antonio's 20. Call it New Orleans 121, San Antonio 110, New Orleans by 11.
12/06 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Towns at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Edwards (2 straight), McDaniels (6 straight). 3 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Vassell at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without McDermott (2 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to San Antonio's 123 and the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to San Antonio's 20. Call it Minnesota 119, San Antonio 109, Minnesota by 10.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
GSWAW A. Wiggins
BP B. Podziemski
CP C. Paul
DŠ D. Šarić
GP G. Payton II
JK J. Kuminga
KL K. Looney
KT K. Thompson
MM M. Moody
SC S. Curry
SA Saric
TJ T. Jackson-Davis
SASCB C. Bassey
CO C. Osman
DM D. McDermott
DV D. Vassell
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
GSW/SAS the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Stephen Curry scores 35 points with seven 3-pointers as Warriors hold off Spurs 118-112
SAN FRANCISCO -- — Gary Payton II delivered a defensive gem with his high-leaping block against 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama as the Golden State guard returned from a foot injury.
The Warriors needed every big play — and only a handful of others have been able to get above Wembanyama so far.
“I'm probably the smallest,” Payton said, chuckling. “It's just energy and effort.”
Stephen Curry scored 35 points and matched his season high with seven 3-pointers while also dishing out six assists, and the Warriors held off Wembanyama and the slumping San Antonio Spurs 118-112 on Friday night in an In-Season Tournament game.
Cedi Osman 's 3 with 21 seconds left pulled the Spurs within 112-109 before Curry converted four free throws the rest of the way and Klay Thompson made a pair.
After the game, Curry hosted the Davidson team in the Warriors' practice facility after his college program lost earlier in the day at Saint Mary's.
Dario Saric added 20 points with four 3s and seven rebounds off the bench, while Thompson contributed 15 points and six assists. Golden State won for just the second time in nine games and still hopes to advance out of Group C in the in-season tournament.
The Warriors even discussed point differential during one late timeout — but that chat didn't quite work out, as a 15-point lead with 2 1/2 minutes left turned into a tight finish.
“We're trying to advance,” coach Steve Kerr said.
No. 1 pick Wembanyama had 22 points and eight rebounds but shot 1 for 6 from long range in San Antonio's 11th straight loss. He had five quick points with a 3-pointer as the Spurs jumped ahead 11-4. The rookie drove to the basket with a pretty around-the-waist move, only to have his shot swatted by Payton — more than a full foot shorter and having missed the previous three games — midway through the second quarter.
“It was an exciting moment, the crowd loved it,” Kerr said. “It was a hell of a play.”
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 points, while Keldon Johnson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, which finished 0-4 in tournament group play.
The Warriors have won the last five against the Spurs and seven of nine in the series, but gave up 34 points off their 24 turnovers.
Draymond Green served the final game of his five-game suspension for putting a choke hold on Rudy Gobert and has been working out with the training staff ahead of his return Tuesday at Sacramento, which would have clinched a quarterfinal spot with a Warriors loss Friday.
"Hopefully he'll be ready to play a lot of minutes,” Kerr said.
Golden State unveiled the new Jim Barnett Media Center honoring the team's former player and broadcaster.
“I'm so glad I'm alive to see all of this,” Barnett said.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Denver on Sunday.
Warriors: Visit the Kings on Tuesday for the final game of Group C play.