OAKLAND -- The Warriors took the difficult path Tuesday night but still had enough, just barely, to come away with the prize.
With a 99-91 victory over San Antonio in Game 5 of their first-round series, the Warriors now advance to the Western Conference semifinals, where they face the New Orleans Pelicans.
Three Warriors scored in double figures, led by 25 points from Kevin Durant. Klay Thompson had 24 and Draymond Green 17 as the defending champs survived 5-of-27 shooting beyond the arc by holding the Spurs to 37.2-percent shooting overall.
The Warriors never trailed, but had to hang on after being outscored 26-20 in the fourth quarter.
STANDOUT PERFORMER: Thompson wanted a bounce-back game on offense and he got one. Green was ferocious on defense all evening.
Thompson’s line: 24 points (11-of-20 shooting from the field, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, 1-of-1 from the line), five rebounds and four assists. He played 41 minutes and finished plus-1.
Green’s line: 17 points (5-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-7 from deep, 5-of-7 from the line), 19 rebounds and seven assists. He played 40 minutes and finished plus-3.
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TURNING POINT: After San Antonio took a 23-22 lead on a 3-pointer by Rudy Gay with 11:13 left in the second quarter, the Warriors responded with a 17-5 run, going up 39-28 on a Kevon Looney midrange jumper with 4:11 remaining in the half.
The Warriors took a 49-38 lead into halftime and went into the fourth quarter up 79-65. They led by as much as 16 in the second half before the Spurs rallied late, to pull within two (93-91, 57.4 seconds remaining) inside the final minute.
INJURY UPDATE: Warriors: G Stephen Curry (L MCL sprain) and G Pat McCaw (lumbar spine contusion) were listed as out.
Spurs: F Kawhi Leonard (return from injury management) was listed as out.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Warriors meet the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference semifinals, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday at Oracle Arena at a time to be determined.
