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Golden State Warriors avoid catastrophe, further solidify top six spot in the West

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors dunks against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 31, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors dunks against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 31, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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A concerning first-half injury for Draymond Green, and trailing by one-point heading to the fourth-quarter against the lowly San Antonio Spurs, the Golden State Warriors faced a catastrophe at Chase Center on Friday night

But the defending champions put their foot down over the final 12 minutes, Green played out the game, and they ultimately avoided disaster to secure their 41st win of the season. The 43-27 fourth-quarter was a necessary burst to subside anxiousness among the fanbase, and further separate the Warriors from chasing rivals in the Western Conference.

Eventually rolling past the San Antonio Spurs and with other results going their way, the Golden State Warriors took a stranglehold on a top six spot in the West on Friday.

The 130-115 win was set up by 91 combined points from Golden State’s explosive guard trio of Stephen Curry (33), Klay Thompson (31), and Jordan Poole (27). They each made six or more shots from beyond the arc, just the second time in franchise history that a trio of teammates have achieved that feat in the same game. The overall performance was underwhelming, but at this point where all that really matters is a tick in the win column, it was a huge result.

Earlier in Minnesota, the Lakers moved to seventh in the West with a big 123-111 win over the Timberwolves. It means that Golden State has moved 1.5 games clear of the play-in mix, although they may harbor ambitions of reaching further. A loss for the Los Angeles Clippers in Memphis means they and the Warriors now both hold a 41-37 record, with the teams separated by the Clippers’ better division record.

The Clippers play the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday on the second night of a back-to-back. The Pelicans hold the same record as the Lakers (39-38) and will be looking to inch closer to the Warriors with a win. Although Golden State would actually move to fifth in that scenario, they may be better served with a Clipper win.

Next. 2 Rivals that could look to steal Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors. dark

That result would be two-fold. The Warriors’ primary objective is to avoid the play-in (which a Clipper win would strengthen), and ideally they’d remain in sixth to matchup with the Sacramento Kings in the first-round. Either way Golden State needs to keep winning, and the challenge gets tougher when they meet the Nuggets in Denver on Sunday.

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