Coaches Popovich and Jackson relishing the series ahead.
Following the San Antonio Spurs’ hard-fought double overtime 129-127 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, coach Gregg Popovich was delighted with the way his team competed.
The Spurs made a remarkable comeback in the fourth to force the game beyond regulation, and Manu Ginobili’s three-pointer with just over a second to go in the second overtime period ensured they took a 1-0 series lead ahead of Game 2 on Wednesday.
Stephen Curry continued his excellent form as he went for 44 points on the night, but it was agonizingly in vain as the Warriors must again bounce back from an opening game defeat, similar to the situation they faced against the Denver Nuggets in the last round.
“We knew coming in it would be a heck of a series. Give them credit, they made plays, they fought back. We were careless at times. But I thought it was a great game, and we are a young basketball team that will be better at the end of the day for playing against the San Antonio Spurs,” Warriors head coach Jackson said in his post-game interview.
“We are excited about this series. I thought I saw a lot of good things during the course of the game tonight. Unfortunately, we didn’t close it,” he concluded.
Spurs coach Popovich will be delighted to have secured a vital opening win, and had Ginobili to thank for clinching it with the Argentine relieved to see his shot go in.
“The last play, it wasn’t for me, they just left me open. I set a screen for TP [Tony Parker] and both went with him and they left me open on the weak side. As you guys can tell, it wasn’t my best shooting night ever, but it really helps if you can make the last one.”
Ginobili and the Spurs will be hoping to protect their home court advantage in Game 2 on Wednesday night, as they go in search of opening up a two-game lead.
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