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Warriors draw to within one victory of second consecutive sweep of Spurs

Durant, Thompson led Golden State to a 110-97 win in Game 3.
Credit: (Antonio Morano bit.ly/XR79FT / Special to Kens5.com)
Spurs point guard Tony Parker came off the bench to score 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting in Thursday night's 110-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

No. 2 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 7 Spurs

(Warriors lead first-round playoff series 3-0)

Game 1: Warriors 113, Spurs 92, Saturday, Oakland, Calif.

Game 2: Warriors 116, Spurs 101, Monday, Oakland

Game 3: Warriors 110, Spurs 97, Thursday, AT&T Center

Game 4: Sunday, 2:30 p.m., AT&T Center

*Game 5: Tuesday, April 24, Time TBD, Oakland

*Game 6: Thursday, April 26, Time TBD, AT&T Center

*Game 7: Saturday, April 28, Time TBD, Oakland

*If necessary

Playing with heavy hearts a day after the death of coach Gregg Popovich's wife, the outmatched Spurs found no relief on their home court Thursday night in their first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors.

Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Klay Thompson had 19, leading the Warriors to a 110-97 victory that pushed the Spurs to the brink of elimination only three games into their postseason.

Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who played one of his best offensive games in weeks, was somber when he spoke to reporters after the game.

"It was very tough. Sad day," Parker said. "Tough to play basketball tonight."

Asked about being down 0-3 in the series, Parker replied: "It's hard to think about that for me personally right now because there's other stuff bigger than basketball."

Golden State won the first two games of the best-of-seven series by double digits at home. After winning 11 consecutive games at the AT&T Center, the Spurs had pinned their hopes on getting back on track at home. But the streak crumbled in the face of the Warriors' dominance.

Game 4 is at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the AT&T Center. The Warriors swept the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals last year.

The Silver and Black were dealt a tough emotional blow Wednesday when Erin Popovich, 67, died after a long illness.

Credit: (Antonio Morano bit.ly/XR79FT / Special to Kens5.com), KENS
Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina, who took over the coaching duties in Gregg Popovich's absence Thursday night, talks with Tony Parker and Patty Mills during Game 3 at the AT&T Center.

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili and Parker said at the team's shootaround Thursday morning that the Spurs were hurting and mourning with their longtime coach. Gregg Popovich was replaced on the bench by assistant coach Ettore Messina.

"It was strange tonight looking down the sidelines and not seeing Pop," said Golden State coach Steve Kerr, who is a close friend of Popovich.. "I spoke with him today and it's a very difficult time, obviously, for Pop and his family, and for all of us who love Pop and loved Erin and feel for the whole family. So it's a difficult day." .

Ginobili and Parker talked about how difficult it would be to play under the circumstances, but they pledged that the Spurs would give it their best shot. .

In the end, they had no shot. Even without two-time MVP Stephen Curry, the Warriors put the Silver and Black away methodically with their hot shooting and tenacious defense.

Per Gregg Popovich's wishes, there was no mention of his wife's passing before the game. Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said after the shootaround that Popovich had told him he wanted the team's focus to be on the game.

Still, Thursday night was far from ordinary at the AT&T Center – even for a playoff game.

Rudy Gay scored the game's first points on a rim-rattling dunk that brought a roar from the crowd. But emotion can carry a heavy underdog only so far.

The Warriors led 26-23 after one quarter, but the Spurs went up 39-34 on another emphatic dunk by Gay midway through the second period. Golden State answered with an 18-4 run to go ahead 52-43 with 36 seconds left in the half. San Antonio never led again.

Credit: (Antonio Morano bit.ly/XR79FT / Special to Kens5.com), KENS
Spurs guard Danny Green puts up a shot over Warriors guard Klay Thompson in Game 3 of the San Antonio-Golden State first-round playoff series Thursday night at the AT&T Center.

In a nutshell, the Silver and Black lost because they shot poorly again, especially from three-point range. They were 42.5 percent (37/87) from the field and made only 7 of 33 three-pointers (21.2 percent). They were 4 of 28 from beyond the arc in Game 2 on Monday.

"I thought our guys focused in and we came in and we played," said Spurs All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who led the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds. "It's been the same thing. We just aren't making shots that are there.

"They're (Warriors) doubling and doing their things. We have open shots, but they just aren't going in. Our guys are competing, following the game plan, and trying to give ourselves a shot, but when don't make shots, it's always tough."

The Warriors shot 51.2 percent (42/82) and were 31.2 percent (10/32) from long distance. Durant, who hit 9 of 17 shots, also had nine rebounds and six assists. Thompson tormented the Spurs again, making 8 of 16 shots, including 3 of 6 from the three-point line.

Shaun Livingston had 16 points off the bench for Golden State, which also had Quinn Cook (12), JaVale Green (10) and Andre Iguodala (10) in double figures.

Parker (16), Patty Mills (14) and Gay (11) rounded out San Antonio's double-figure scoring.

Ahead 52-46 at the half, the Warriors outscored the Spurs 32-26 in the third quarter to take an 84-72 lead into the final period.

Durant had 17 points, five rebounds and three assists to help the Warriors take a 52-46 lead at the half. Golden State shot 51.2 percent (21/41) in the first two quarters but made only 1 of 11 attempts from the three-point line.

Gay and Parker scored 10 points each to lead the Spurs' first-half scoring. The Silver and Black shot 40.6 percent, hitting 18 of 43 shots. They shot poorly from the three-point line again in the first two quarters, making only 2 of 13 attempts. Gay nailed a three to make it a six-point game at the half.

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