In an atmosphere that they had by no means confronted, the Golden State Warriors relied on their expertise to make it really feel like simply one other recreation in San Antonio, Calif.
Jordan Poole scored 25 factors, Donte DiVincenzo added 22 and the Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs 144-113 on Friday evening earlier than an NBA-record crowd of 68,323 on the Alamodome.
“It was fairly electrical, a extremely big day enjoying in entrance of the biggest crowd in NBA historical past,” Poole stated. “I’m glad we received the win.”
The attendance shattered the earlier regular-season file of 62,046 who watched Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls play the Atlanta Hawks on the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998.
“Obviously, I hate to lose. But with the turnout, how will you be mad?” Spurs ahead Keldon Johnson stated. “The Spurs fanbase surpassed something we might think about. That made tonight particular.”
That was candy š¤<br><br>Ā» <a href=”https://t.co/RHUZLxzr0w”>https://t.co/RHUZLxzr0w</a> <a href=”https://t.co/OFiDRBiQfV”>pic.twitter.com/OFiDRBiQfV</a>
—@warriors
The Spurs usually play on the AT&T Center however returned to their former house because the franchise celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.
While returning to the Alamodome stirred fond reminiscences of the franchise’s first NBA championship in 1999 for San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich and followers, actuality wasn’t as variety.
Golden State set its season excessive in factors, surpassing its earlier excessive in a 143-141 victory in double-overtime towards Atlanta on Jan. 2.
The recreation began with a video tribute to Steve Kerr, who performed 4 seasons for the Spurs starting within the 1999 and ended with the Warriors coach embracing Popovich, his pal and mentor.
“The presentation of the sport was spectacular,” Kerr stated. “For me it was a little bit of a visit down reminiscence lane. I received emotional earlier than the sport. They performed the video and launched me. To get an ovation from 68,000 followers provides you chills. This was a extremely particular evening. The Spurs made it particular.”
Kerr knew how tough enjoying within the cavernous facility is after enjoying on the Alamodome. That’s why he ran an extended apply Thursday evening to assist his gamers acclimate to the brand new environment, and it helped.
The Warriors had eight gamers rating in double figures. Klay Thompson had 16 factors and Stephen Curry added 15.
Golden State had 38 assists whereas main by as many as 39 factors.
Tre Jones had 21 factors for San Antonio, which has misplaced 4 straight and 7 of eight. Johnson added 17 factors.
68,323 followers.<br><br>A record-breaking evening within the Alamodome. <a href=”https://t.co/qTcP3f5Ncg”>pic.twitter.com/qTcP3f5Ncg</a>
—@NBA
After the Warriors missed their first three photographs, Thompson drained a 3-pointer to spark a 17-4 run. Golden State would shoot 39 per centĀ on 3s and 50 per centĀ from the sector within the opening quarter.
“It was a extremely cool atmosphere,” Kerr stated. “Very distinctive with the courtroom in the midst of the dome. Maybe it took a bit bit for our guys to get adjusted, however all in all our guys got here and had been very aggressive.”
When the Warriors opened a 30-point lead within the 4 quarter, Spurs followers responded with the wave for 5 minutes straight.
“The followers loved themselves, although we had been getting our ass kicked,” Popovich stated. “They gave the impression to be having a hell of a time, so there will need to have been a number of beer gross sales on the market.”
