Warriors Will Make Concerted Effort to Get Off to Strong Start in Game 5

OAKLAND -- After losing a first-round game for only the second time in four postseasons, the Warriors expect to recover and close out the Spurs when they meet Tuesday night in Game 5 at Oracle Arena.

Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins with Warriors Outsiders at 4:30pm, with tipoff at Oracle Arena scheduled for 7:40.

Reverting to their worst regular-season habits in Game 4, committing seven turnovers in the first five minutes in a tip-to-horn road loss, the Warriors are sure to be more focused at home. They are 7-1 in Game 5s under coach Steve Kerr.

For the third consecutive game, San Antonio will be without head coach Gregg Popovich, who remains away after the death of his wife last Wednesday.

BETTING LINE

Warriors by 10.5

MATCHUP TO WATCH

JaVale McGee & Co. vs. LaMarcus Aldridge: Though Aldridge had 22 and 10 in Game 4, the Warriors made him go out of his comfort zone. He was 3-of-3 beyond the arc, and the Warriors will give him those shots. As long as he isn't pouring in points, the Spurs will have to get offense from other sources and that's not a given.

INJURY REPORT

Warriors: G Stephen Curry (L MCL sprain) and G Pat McCaw (lumbar spine contusion) are listed as out.

Spurs: F Kawhi Leonard (return from injury management) is listed as out.

SERIES TO DATE

Game 1: Warriors 113, Spurs 92 Game 2: Warriors 116, Spurs 101 Game 3: Warriors 110, Spurs 97 Game 4: Spurs 103, Warriors 90

GAME OFFICIALS

Mike Callahan (crew chief), Tony Brown, Jason Phillips, (Bennie Adams) alternate

SERIES HISTORY

The Warriors won three of four in the regular season after sweeping the Spurs in the 2017 Western Conference Finals. The Warriors are 14-7 (including postseason) against San Antonio in the Steve Kerr era.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

EARLY ENGAGEMENT: The crowd will sense victory from the start and the Warriors, with no desire to make a return trip to San Antonio, will be in a mood to handle business at home. Considering their dreadful start in Game 4, they'll make a concerted effort to be sharp and generate some early momentum.

KLAY'S COMEBACK: After punishing the Spurs with spectacular shooting in the first three games, Klay Thompson had neither luck not accuracy in Game 4, missing 12 of his 16 shots. His scoring often is the pivotal offensive factor for a Warriors team without Stephen Curry. When he's on, the Warriors almost always win.

SPURS RESOLVE: Shooting 53. 6 percent from deep, playing aggressive defense and knowing it might be Manu Ginobili's last game in San Antonio, the Spurs may have found their peak in Game 4. That will be tough to repeat knowing they need to win four in a row to take the series.

Copyright CSNBY - CSN BAY
Contact Us