The Golden State Warriors rallied from a slow start to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 112-102 during Monday’s NBA action, with Jonathan Kuminga and Klay Thompson leading the charge. Kuminga scored 21 points while Thompson added 20, overcoming San Antonio’s early lead and showcasing the Warriors’ resilience and strategic depth.
Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama returned from injury to post 27 points and 14 rebounds, but coach Gregg Popovich remained uncertain about his availability for the next game.
“We weren’t doing anything differently, just the effort and the connection,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “If one guy is out of place and everybody’s giving great effort, it still results in two points. I just felt we were better connected in the second half and as that went, we picked up some momentum.”
Golden State’s defensive effort intensified after Draymond Green fouled out, limiting the Spurs to just one point in the final moments. Rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis contributed significantly with 13 points and 10 rebounds, punctuating the victory with a dramatic dunk over Wembanyama.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
With Stephen Curry sidelined, Thompson’s return to the starting lineup proved crucial, despite shooting challenges. The Warriors’ victory prevented the Spurs from securing a road-and-home sweep and underscored Golden State’s improved road performance.
The Spurs, despite regaining their top scorers, struggled to replicate the balanced effort that led to a previous victory against the Warriors.
“They made 51% of their 3s last game,” Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski said. “Tonight, holding them to 38% was definitely a big key for us, but also just showing what we’re about and not letting anybody punk us.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
San Antonio’s assist count dipped from their last meeting, highlighting the Warriors’ successful defensive adjustments in the second half.
“So, obviously, consistency is always (important), but today I think it’s also responding to the physicality that they put,” Wembanyama said. “We didn’t have a strong enough response.”
Jackson-Davis’ highlight dunk served as a symbol of Golden State’s assertive play and ability to respond under pressure.
“I saw that he overplayed it, and he overplayed it to my right. Obviously, I’m left-handed,” Jackson-Davis said. “So, I think I spun or got to my left hand and then I had to step on him. I just tried him. I told (Kevon Looney) before the game that if I got the chance to try him, I would. At the end of the day, sometimes you dunk on people, sometimes you get dunked on. It’s just a basketball play.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
The Warriors’ third-quarter surge, marked by a 19-0 run, was key to overtaking the Spurs and securing the win.
“They came out and hit us hard in the (start of the) third quarter,” Warriors guard Chris Paul said. “We couldn’t really get stops. We were turning the ball over a little bit. Then we called a timeout and we just settled in. Think we just started defending and getting out in transition and tried to get a little bit more aggressive.”
As both teams look ahead to their next matchups, the Warriors’ victory over the Spurs illustrates the impact of strategic defense and the importance of seizing momentum.
