Warriors rout Leonard-less Spurs to edge closer to NBA Finals
The Golden State Warriors picked up where they left off, dominating the San Antonio Spurs in game two for a commanding series lead in the Western Conference finals.
Facing a Spurs team without NBA MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard, the Warriors were too good in their 136-100 victory on Tuesday.
The Warriors now lead 2-0 in the playoffs as the NBA Finals edge closer.
Golden State outscored the Spurs 58-33 in the final quarter and a half after Leonard exited with an ankle injury in game one on Sunday and were ahead by an eerily similar 57-33 score with just under five minutes remaining before half-time at Oracle Arena on Tuesday.
After 40 points in the opener, Steph Curry led the Warriors with 29 points on eight of 13 shooting in the rout.
That kind of half for Steph. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/wklCyaqfDJ
— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2017
Kevin Durant added 16 points in limited minutes as the Warriors built a 41-point lead, the Spurs' largest playoff deficit under head coach Gregg Popovich.
Despite a 0-2 series hole, the Spurs training staff will have until Saturday to attempt to heal Leonard's sprained ankle. Popovich told reporters pre-game that the San Antonio star is "questionable" in advance of game three in San Antonio.
As he did in game six of the Western Conference semi-finals against the Houston Rockets, Jonathon Simmons filled in admirably for Leonard Tuesday.
Simmons was the lone bright spot for the Spurs, scoring 22 points but his supporting cast was non-existent.
LaMarcus Aldridge registered a dismal minus-20 in the loss and made just four of 11 shots to finish with eight points as San Antonio shot 37.4 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 16 times.