Skeleton crew Warriors pull out shocking win

Poole has 31 points. Moody, Lee, Payton all come up with huge hustle plays. Kuminga impresses with 19.

Feb 2

What an incredible win! This is why you watch all the games: an absolutely gritty win for a Golden State Warriors team playing about as short handed as they possibly could have.

The Warriors hung around and kept it close, but it was really all about the 4th quarter comeback tonight. An electric, white-knuckled ride through all sorts of crazy hustle plays, impressive shots from seldom used players, and a San Antonio Spurs team that saw their offense dry up in the 4th quarter.

Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater

Warriors, without most of their rotation, just outscored the Spurs 35-16 in the fourth quarter to steal a win in San Antonio. Jordan Poole with 31 points. Moses Moody (six 3s) and Damion Lee (21 points) combined for huge hustle play. Jonathan Kuminga 19 off the bench.

I’ve never been an NBA champion (not that I’d mind, it’s just never come up) but I assume this is the sort of game that builds a backbone in belief. A team composed of whatever the Warriors had left in the cupboard just beat a fully healthy Spurs team. This is the sort of event that you’d remember.

Warriors on NBCS @NBCSWarriors

JP and the Warriors never gave in tonight 💪

One question that has me anxious is about Gary Payton II’s health. He limped off the court after crashing into the courtside fans. The review didn’t appear to show him roll an ankle or anything, so hopefully this is just a minor tweak. He fomented the comeback with some timely steals, including this one that feeds into a beautiful Kuminga windmill.

[Post publish update: coach Kerr mentioned in his post game that it was Payton’s shin that got hit, won’t get further updates until at least tomorrow]

Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater

Gary Payton II was injured on a spectacular steal. Here's the slow-mo of the lefty tap/righty save while falling into the first row that led to a Kuminga alley oop, then the alternate angle that shows that has him coming up limping on that left leg.

What’s that?

Another look at the Kuminga dunk? Okay!

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob

As always, please pardon the brevity. This is just a short fresh thread for the community to celebrate in. Our DNHQ high quality coverage will resume in the morning… by that time, I hope to get some pictures of Curry in that dope velour suit of his.