Warriors vs. Spurs preview, and more
On Easter Sunday, the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs have work to do. Both teams have clinched a playoff berth, making this contest nothing more than a tune-up for Golden State and a fight for seeding with San Antonio.
The Spurs, 50-26, are sitting sixth in the Western Conference but are only a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers. Should San Antonio be able to move up into the fifth spot, it would likely draw a wounded Portland Trail Blazers team led by a battered LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. If the Spurs stay in sixth, they will probably see either the Houston Rockets or Memphis Grizzlies, which seems to be a much harder test.
Golden State is already locked into the top seed, earning home-court advantage throughout the Western playoffs. The Warriors have been a juggernaut at ORACLE Arena this year, sporting a 35-2 mark. However, the Spurs are one of the teams who defeated them in front of their Oakland crowd.
This matchup is pitting the two hottest teams in the league against one another. Golden State is cruising, riding a 12-game winning streak into the holiday. Meanwhile, San Antonio comes in on a six-game roll, buoyed by the fantastic play of Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Without question, the Warriors are the best team in basketball to this point. For all the conjecture about the Cleveland Cavaliers and others, Golden State has proven its dominance through all the tests of the regular season. Now, with the spring looming, can the Warriors continue their championship run with the crucible at its hottest?
The Spurs know all about that challenge, going to the NBA Finals five times during the Duncan Era. San Antonio appears to be Golden State’s greatest threat, the team with ample experience and a deep bench. The Spurs are not more talented than the Warriors, but that is only part of the equation.
Race for 8th
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth and final playoff spot. On Sunday, the Thunder host the Rockets while the Pelicans enjoy the day off. Both teams are then relaxing Monday before Oklahoma City sees the Spurs come to town while the Warriors visit the Pelicans.
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder (-2), 1 p.m. ET
Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers (-8.5), 3:30 p.m. ET
Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers (-6), 6 p.m. ET
Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs (-5.5), 7 p.m. ET
Philadelphia 76ers (-1) at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET
Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings, 9 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Clippers (-12) at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 p.m. ET
