SAN ANTONIO — The ball was rolling off the rim with less than 10 seconds left in a one-possession game and heading right for the tangled bodies of Draymond Green and Victor Wembanyama.
Green gives up about 10 inches to the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama in this duel, but these sorts of moments are a core reason the Golden State Warriors stick by him. That play was nothing but basketball fundamentals, and the player with better positioning and experience won.
Green outmaneuvered Wembanyama, who committed an over-the-back foul that sealed a 117-113 victory for the Warriors over the San Antonio Spurs. It was just one of a number of patented Green plays during the game, including another offensive rebound with just under 40 seconds left that led to a Klay Thompson 3-pointer that gave the Warriors leverage for the finish.
Just last week Green was ejected within the first four minutes of a game in Orlando, Florida, leading longtime teammate Stephen Curry to wipe his eyes in emotion as another Green outburst had hurt the Warriors.
That was forgotten by Easter Sunday night as Green’s 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 6 steals enabled the Warriors to finish their road trip with a fourth consecutive victory.
“That’s a fundamental, four-year college, high Division I-level type play that you learn through the ranks,” said Curry, who played brilliantly himself with 33 points and 8 assists. “I don’t think any NBA coach teaches that.”
The Warriors boarded their jet home with a two-game lead, plus the tiebreaker, for the last play-in tournament spot in the Western Conference after the Houston Rockets finally had their 11-game win streak snapped Sunday. Golden State is within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 9 spot.
“That was a defensive masterpiece,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Green. “The offensive board at the end with the Klay 3 — probably play of the game. You watch that game, Draymond, he’s a genius defensively.”
Wembanyama still had huge game with 32 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 4 steals. He had 18 points in the fourth quarter alone. It was the first time this season Wembanyama has put up back-to-back 30-point games after a 40-point, 10-rebound game on Friday.
But Green got the two biggest loose balls and stripped Wembanyama for a key steal with less than three minutes left.
“Vic finished with 32, so I can’t give myself too much credit,” Green said. “He is a very, very, very, very special talent. I was just telling [teammates] I’m happy I had the opportunity to play against him now because they’ll have to deal with him a lot later and I won’t be in the league no more, so that’s good for me.”
Wembanyama wasn’t thrilled with the whistle that gave Green two free throws — he made one to clinch the game — saying after the game he believed he’d just reached over Green. He also wasn’t thrilled with the fine the NBA levied on him earlier Sunday. He was docked $25,000 for throwing the ball into the stands in celebration Friday night after an overtime victory against the New York Knicks, violating an NBA rule.
“I remembered players being fined for this, but it was always in a bad way,” Wembanyama said. “I threw to make some guy’s day. It’s just funny.”
The Warriors, who are now 22-15 on the road this season but just 18-19 at home, had to work to the final moments despite the Spurs missing three players because of injuries from Friday’s game. Starters Devin Vassell (foot) and Jeremy Sochan (ankle) were out, as was key reserve Keldon Johnson (foot).
“It’s a fantastic trip, particularly after losing the first one in tough fashion [in Minnesota] for the guys to bounce back, win four straight games on the road,” Kerr said. “It’s a sign of their competitiveness and their grit. And even though it wasn’t pretty tonight, they got it done.”
