Life without Tim Duncan (L) begins for Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs (Getty)
Final Score
Spurs 31-33-33-32 129
Warriors 20-26-31-23 100With Tim Duncan deciding to retire this summer, the San Antonio Spurs are getting used to playing without the game’s greatest power forward. And in their season opener Gregg Popovich’s team made a statement in the form of a 129-100 win over the Golden State Warriors in Oakland.
Kawhi Leonard led the way with a career-high 35 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists, with LaMarcus Aldridge adding 26 points, 14 rebounds and three assists. San Antonio appeared to be in a fight during the first half, but the play of their reserves led by guard Patty Mills and guard/forward Jonathon Simmons gave the Spurs control of the game.
Kevin Durant made his regular season debut with the Warriors, making his first four shots of the game, finishing with 27 points and ten rebounds. Stephen Curry added 26 points, but the lack of production from their bench and the inability to slow down San Antonio proved to be too much for the Warriors to overcome. San Antonio shot 12-for-24 from three, outscoring Golden State by 15 points on three-pointers as the Warriors shot 7-for-33.
First Half Highlights
KD officially gets in the scoring column as a Warrior 🏀
Heatin’ up?… Steph scores six quick points in 15 seconds on @NBAonTNT. #NBARapidReplay #KiaTipOff16 t.co/nHAREXctkb
Jonathon Simmons drains the 3-point buzzer beater for the @spurs! #NBAVine t.co/PTLgXFNwnh
Second Half Highlights
Jonathon Simmons posterizes JaVale McGee to end the blowout.
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