SAN ANTONIO — Going through the primary of two matchups with San Antonio’s 7-foot-5 unicorn Victor Wembanyama and staring down a seventh consecutive street loss, Steve Kerr promised a “drastic” lineup change for a crew already doing a little critical soul-searching after being obliterated in Oklahoma Metropolis on the primary evening of its back-to-back.
Out was the inconsistent however gifted Jonathan Kuminga and the slow-footed 7-footer Quinten Submit, and in was regular ahead Moses Moody and shocking second-round rookie Will Richard when the Warriors took the Frost Financial institution Heart.
The change paid off because the Warriors gained 125-120. Steph Curry bounced again from his 4 for 13 efficiency towards OKC with a 46-point outburst, 22 of these coming within the third quarter. In the meantime, Wembanyama put up an informal 31-point, 13-rebound, 10 help triple-double. Jimmy Butler scored 26 as one other Warrior who bounced again from a poor displaying in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Warriors led by as many as six within the fourth quarter, however couldn’t land the haymaker because the springy Spurs threw counterpunch after counterpunch till late. The Warriors made the stops down the stretch to salt away the much-needed win and snap a six-game shedding streak on the street.
The Warriors (7-6) will stay in San Antonio (8-3) for a number of extra days due to a baseball-style schedule that may see the groups faceoff once more on Friday evening.
Butler’s aggression
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket towards Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors within the first half at Frost Financial institution Heart on Nov. 12, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, Consumer is consenting to phrases and situations of the Getty Photos License Settlement. (Picture by Ronald Cortes/Getty Photos)
Jimmy Butler demanded that all the crew make sacrifices and adjustments to their recreation after the debacle in Oklahoma Metropolis. However in his case, the wanted change concerned him taking a extra shot-happy method, reasonably than scaling again.
After taking simply three photographs in a bit of over 20 minutes on Tuesday, he surpassed that complete halfway by means of the second quarter. He took 12 photographs and a dozen free throws.
He banged in 5 3-pointers, the long-distance taking pictures a should towards a Spurs protection that had the gargantuan Wembanyama parked within the paint always. Horford’s 9 factors and three 3-pointers off the bench additionally helped house a cramped courtroom.
Kuminga hobbled off the bench
Kuminga had a brief and painful evening off the bench. He entered the sport questionable with a gimpy knee, however gutted by means of 12 minutes within the first half.
He grabbed 4 rebounds however tried only one shot, unable to get into the paint off the dribble. He left the sport with 32 seconds remaining within the first half, and was dominated out for the second half with knee soreness.
Gary Payton II took his place within the second half. Although Payton’s misplaced step on protection was obvious – Spurs guards torched him in isolation greater than as soon as – his exercise helped gasoline the 38-24 third quarter run.
In simply 14 minutes, Payton II was +14 and had two large offensive rebounds that led to the Curry 3-pointer to place the Warriors up 9 with 4 minutes remaining.
Moody’s massive recreation
Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) shoots a basket towards the Indiana Pacers within the fourth quarter of their NBA recreation at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-83. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Moody was the crew’s every-game starter on the wing within the second half of final season, however a preseason calf harm stunted his momentum going into this season.
However due to an improved leap shot and continued excellence because the Warriors’ high perimeter stopper, protecting Moody on the bench was an train destined to finish sooner reasonably than later.
In his third begin of the season, Moody made 5 of 10 3-pointers and scored 19 factors, being one of many few Warriors that didn’t appear at a extreme drawback athletically.
