Stephen Curry scores 35 points with seven 3-pointers as Warriors hold off Spurs 118-112
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Gary Payton II delivered a defensive gem with his high-leaping block against 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama as the Golden State guard returned from a foot injury.
The Warriors needed every big play - and only a handful of others have been able to get above Wembanyama so far.
“I'm probably the smallest,” Payton said, chuckling. “It's just energy and effort.”
Stephen Curry scored 35 points and matched his season high with seven 3-pointers while also dishing out six assists, and the Warriors held off Wembanyama and the slumping San Antonio Spurs 118-112 on Friday night in an In-Season Tournament game.
Cedi Osman's 3 with 21 seconds left pulled the Spurs within 112-109 before Curry converted four free throws the rest of the way and Klay Thompson made a pair.
After the game, Curry hosted the Davidson team in the Warriors' practice facility after his college program lost earlier in the day at Saint Mary's.
Dario Saric added 20 points with four 3s and seven rebounds off the bench, while Thompson contributed 15 points and six assists. Golden State won for just the second time in nine games and still hopes to advance out of Group C in the in-season tournament.
The Warriors even discussed point differential during one late timeout - but that chat didn't quite work out, as a 15-point lead with 2 1/2 minutes left turned into a tight finish.
“We're trying to advance,” coach Steve Kerr said.
No. 1 pick Wembanyama had 22 points and eight rebounds but shot 1 for 6 from long range in San Antonio's 11th straight loss. He had five quick points with a 3-pointer as the Spurs jumped ahead 11-4. The rookie drove to the basket with a pretty around-the-waist move, only to have his shot swatted by Payton - more than a full foot shorter and having missed the previous three games - midway through the second quarter.
“It was an exciting moment, the crowd loved it,” Kerr said. “It was a hell of a play.”
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 points, while Keldon Johnson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, which finished 0-4 in tournament group play.
The Warriors have won the last five against the Spurs and seven of nine in the series, but gave up 34 points off their 24 turnovers.
Draymond Green served the final game of his five-game suspension for putting a choke hold on Rudy Gobert and has been working out with the training staff ahead of his return Tuesday at Sacramento, which would have clinched a quarterfinal spot with a Warriors loss Friday.
"Hopefully he'll be ready to play a lot of minutes,” Kerr said.
Golden State unveiled the new Jim Barnett Media Center honoring the team's former player and broadcaster.
“I'm so glad I'm alive to see all of this,” Barnett said.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Denver on Sunday.
Warriors: Visit the Kings on Tuesday for the final game of Group C play.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Victor Wembanyama vs. Kevon Looney (Stephen Curry gains possession) | ||
| 11:46 | | +2 | Moses Moody makes two point cutting dunk (Klay Thompson assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:25 |  | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Andrew Wiggins defensive rebound | ||
| 11:03 | | +2 | Andrew Wiggins makes two point stepback jump shot (Klay Thompson assists) | 0-4 |
| 10:52 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (lost ball) | ||
| 10:41 | | Stephen Curry misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:34 | | Kevon Looney personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 10:22 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:15 | | Keldon Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 10:15 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point putback layup | 2-4 |
| 10:15 | | Stephen Curry turnover (bad pass) | ||
| 10:04 | | Jeremy Sochan misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:01 | | Kevon Looney defensive rebound | ||
| 9:59 | | Klay Thompson misses two point layup | ||
| 9:53 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:46 | | Stephen Curry defensive rebound | ||
| 9:42 | | Klay Thompson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:36 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:34 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point running dunk (Keldon Johnson assists) | 4-4 |
| 9:22 | | Andrew Wiggins misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:18 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:17 | | Andrew Wiggins personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 9:07 | | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point pullup jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 6-4 |
| 8:55 | | Kevon Looney turnover (bad pass) (Malaki Branham steals) | ||
| 8:49 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point running layup (Malaki Branham assists) | 8-4 |
| 8:31 | | Stephen Curry misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:29 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 8:21 | | +3 | Victor Wembanyama makes three point jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 11-4 |
| 8:20 | | Warriors 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:06 | | +2 | Kevon Looney makes two point driving layup (Klay Thompson assists) | 11-6 |
| 8:06 | | Zach Collins shooting foul (Kevon Looney draws the foul) | ||
| 8:06 | | +1 | Kevon Looney makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 11-7 |
| 7:53 | | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 14-7 |
| 7:40 | | +2 | Moses Moody makes two point pullup jump shot (Kevon Looney assists) | 14-9 |
| 7:30 | | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 17-9 |
| 7:23 | | Stephen Curry turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:05 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 19-9 |
| 6:51 | | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point pullup jump shot | 19-12 |
| 6:36 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point turnaround hook shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 21-12 |
| 6:18 | | +3 | Klay Thompson makes three point pullup jump shot (Moses Moody assists) | 21-15 |
| 6:05 | | Malaki Branham misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:00 | | Kevon Looney defensive rebound | ||
| 5:58 | | +2 | Moses Moody makes two point running layup (Stephen Curry assists) | 21-17 |
| 5:48 | | Klay Thompson shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 5:48 | | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-17 |
| 5:48 | | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-17 |
| 5:40 | | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point jump shot (Chris Paul assists) | 23-20 |
| 5:36 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:19 | | Zach Collins misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 5:16 | | Zach Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 5:16 | | Dario Saric shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 5:16 | | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-20 |
| 5:16 | | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-20 |
| 5:02 | | +2 | Dario Saric makes two point cutting layup (Klay Thompson assists) | 25-22 |
| 4:52 | | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:48 | | Cedi Osman offensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point putback layup | 27-22 |
| 4:25 | | Jonathan Kuminga misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:21 | | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | ||
| 4:10 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point turnaround hook shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 29-22 |
| 4:00 | | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point cutting layup (Dario Saric assists) | 29-24 |
| 3:46 | | Zach Collins turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:32 | | Gary Payton II misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:30 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 3:16 | | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:12 | | Brandin Podziemski defensive rebound | ||
| 3:06 | | +3 | Dario Saric makes three point jump shot (Jonathan Kuminga assists) | 29-27 |
| 2:43 | | Cedi Osman misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:40 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 2:32 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point pullup jump shot | 31-27 |
| 2:26 | | Cedi Osman shooting foul (Jonathan Kuminga draws the foul) | ||
| 2:26 | | +1 | Jonathan Kuminga makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-28 |
| 2:26 | | Jonathan Kuminga misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 2:25 | | Warriors offensive rebound | ||
| 2:15 | | Brandin Podziemski misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:12 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:07 | | Cedi Osman misses two point layup | ||
| 2:04 | | Dario Saric defensive rebound | ||
| 1:53 | | Dario Saric misses two point driving layup | ||
| 1:49 | | Dario Saric offensive rebound | ||
| 1:48 | | +2 | Dario Saric makes two point putback layup | 31-30 |
| 1:29 | | Keldon Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:27 | | Brandin Podziemski defensive rebound | ||
| 1:15 | | Brandin Podziemski turnover (bad pass) (Tre Jones steals) | ||
| 1:11 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point layup (Tre Jones assists) | 33-30 |
| 0:55 | | +2 | Dario Saric makes two point layup (Chris Paul assists) | 33-32 |
| 0:47 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving floating jump shot | 35-32 |
| 0:40 | | Brandin Podziemski misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:37 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 0:32 | | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | Jonathan Kuminga defensive rebound | ||
| 0:07 | | Brandin Podziemski misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 0:05 | | Tre Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 0:01 | | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:49 | | Devin Vassell turnover (3-second violation) | ||
| 11:30 | | Dario Saric misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:25 | | Tre Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 11:18 | | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point jump shot (Charles Bassey assists) | 38-32 |
| 10:59 | | +2 | Chris Paul makes two point pullup jump shot (Dario Saric assists) | 38-34 |
| 10:52 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point jump shot (Doug McDermott assists) | 41-34 |
| 10:44 | | Trayce Jackson-Davis offensive foul (Tre Jones draws the foul) | ||
| 10:44 | | Trayce Jackson-Davis turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 10:27 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point driving layup (Charles Bassey assists) | 43-34 |
| 10:15 | | +3 | Klay Thompson makes three point jump shot (Chris Paul assists) | 43-37 |
| 9:58 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 46-37 |
| 9:41 | | Charles Bassey blocks Trayce Jackson-Davis's two point hook shot | ||
| 9:38 | | Tre Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 9:36 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) | ||
| 9:24 | | Victor Wembanyama shooting foul (Klay Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 9:24 | | Klay Thompson misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | ||
| 9:24 | | Warriors offensive rebound | ||
| 9:24 | | +1 | Klay Thompson makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 46-38 |
| 9:24 | | +1 | Klay Thompson makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 46-39 |
| 9:13 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:05 | | Trayce Jackson-Davis blocks Malaki Branham's two point cutting layup | ||
| 8:59 | | Chris Paul defensive rebound | ||
| 8:46 | | Chris Paul misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:41 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 8:39 | | Chris Paul personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 8:31 | | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:29 | | Klay Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:27 | | Tre Jones shooting foul (Trayce Jackson-Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 8:27 | | +1 | Trayce Jackson-Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-40 |
| 8:27 | | +1 | Trayce Jackson-Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-41 |
| 8:20 | | Malaki Branham turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:11 | | Stephen Curry turnover (bad pass) (Victor Wembanyama steals) | ||
| 8:06 | | Gary Payton II blocks Victor Wembanyama's two point running layup | ||
| 8:06 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 8:00 | | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:56 | | Dario Saric defensive rebound | ||
| 7:49 | | +3 | Dario Saric makes three point jump shot (Stephen Curry assists) | 46-44 |
| 7:47 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:25 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:22 | | Doug McDermott offensive rebound | ||
| 7:22 | | Spurs turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 7:11 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Stephen Curry's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:09 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 7:08 | | +3 | Doug McDermott makes three point running jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 49-44 |
| 6:50 | | +3 | Moses Moody makes three point jump shot (Stephen Curry assists) | 49-47 |
| 6:37 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (back court violation) | ||
| 6:32 | | Jeremy Sochan personal foul (Stephen Curry draws the foul) | ||
| 6:18 | | +3 | Andrew Wiggins makes three point jump shot (Stephen Curry assists) | 49-50 |
| 5:57 | | Zach Collins misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 5:57 | | Kevon Looney defensive rebound | ||
| 5:45 | | Stephen Curry misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:41 | | Moses Moody offensive rebound | ||
| 5:40 | | Moses Moody turnover (bad pass) (Doug McDermott steals) | ||
| 5:31 | | +3 |