Month: January 2021

Curry leads Warriors in thrilling comeback victory over Clippers 115-105

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Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) celebrates with guard Stephen Curry (30) after Wiggins made a 3-point shot against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.Tony Avelar/AP News photo

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors faced the Los Angeles Clippers for the second time in three days Friday night. The Clippers won the first game and were hoping to beat the Warriors again.

The Clippers are loaded with talent. Many people around the NBA think they will be a contender for the NBA title. They dominated the first quarter of play Friday night. They won the second quarter to finish the first half with a 14 point advantage.

They increased the lead to 20, 83-63 with three minutes left in the third quarter. Behind Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Eric Paschall, the Warriors went on a 52-20 run to earn a comeback victory 115-1105.

In the first half, the Clippers excelled on both ends of the court. Paul George made four threes in four tries. He finished the first half with 17. Kawhi Leonard knocked down 11, and he connected on two threes in two attempts.

The Clipper defense continued to throttle the Warrior offense. Stephen Curry was the only Warrior in double figures with 14 points. The Clips won the first quarter 30-22, and the second 35-31 to lead by 14 , 65-51 at the end of the first half.

The Clippers made two three-pointers to start the third quarter to lead by 20, 71-51. Steph made a couple of shots to cut the deficit to 15. The Clippers regained the 20 point lead 83-63.

It was at this point, LA must have thought the game would be in the win column. Curry had other thoughts. Curry, who was held to 13 points Wednesday night, went on a tear. He tallied 19 points as the Warriors went on an 18-2 run to finish the quarter trailing 87-81.

The Warriors started the final stanza with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 87. LA scored a bucket to go ahead 89-87. Eric Paschall scored a deuce to tie it at 89. Paschall then connected on a three pointer to put Golden State ahead for the first time since early in the first period. The teams tied again at 97.

Brad Wanamaker knocked down a three, and the Warriors led 100-97. They would not relinquish the lead. Andrew Wiggins, Curry, Draymond Green, and Wanamaker all made buckets to propel the Warriors to the win. The Warriors finished the game on a 52-20 run in the last 15 minutes of play to stun the Clippers 115-105.

Game Notes and stats: With the win, the Warriors improve to 5-4 for the year. The Clippers dropped to 6-4.

 Curry had another fantastic performance Friday night. He had a double-double with 38 points, 11 assists, and two rebounds. Curry was 13 for 24 from the floor, and he made nine threes in 14 tries.

Andrew Wiggins had 16 points and six boards. Andrew made two threes. Eric Paschall, who led the charge in the fourth quarter, had 12 points and six boards. No other Warrior was in double figures. However, Damian Lee, Mychal Mulder, Brad Wanamaker, Kelly Oubre, Jr., and Kent Bazemore came through with big plays to help win the game.

The Warriors meet the Toronto Raptors Sunday night at the Chase Center. The game will start at 5:30 pm.

San Jose State falls to rival Fresno State 79-64

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Photo credit: @SanJoseStateMBB

By Ana Kieu

The San Jose State Spartans looked to win their second straight game as they began conference play with back-to-back games against the rival Fresno State Bulldogs.

Both teams played really hard, but the Spartans ended up losing to the Bulldogs 79-64 at the Save Mart Center on Friday night. SJSU is now 1-15 at the Save Mart Center.

The Spartans had a new opponent, but head coach Jean Prioleau kept the same starting five. Omari Moore, Richard Washington, Trey Smith, Nate Lacewell and Ralph Agee walked onto the court with their game faces on.

The Spartans drew first blood 21 seconds into the first half, thanks to Richard Washington’s jumper. Washington scored 7 points in the first four minutes of the game.

The Bulldogs tied the game at 2 and took a 7-2 lead, but the Spartans scored 9 points to tie the game at 11 at 15:56 of the first. Richard Washington made a jumper to make it 19-14 Spartans at 12:41 of the first. Washington’s back-to-back free throws and Sebastian Mendoza’s jumper gave the Spartans an 8-point lead, 24-16, at 10:40 of the first.

The Spartans’ lead didn’t last long. The Bulldog defense stepped up late, Deon Stroud made a game-tying jumper to tie the game at 31 with 5:50 left in the first and Orlando Robinson hit a 3-pointer to give Fresno State a 34-31 lead 55 seconds later.

The Bulldogs had a 38-34 lead at the final timeout with three minutes remaining in the first. San Jose State, however, went ahead for good after Richard Washington hit a 3-point jumper with one second left in the first. The Spartans led by three, 45-42, heading into the locker room at halftime.

Richard Washington struck first with a jumper for a 47-42 Spartans lead 31 seconds into the second half. Ralph Agee made it 49-42 Spartans at 18:40 of the second. SJSU proceeded to shoot 55% from the field and 50% from downtown and took a 5-point lead, 53-48, at 15:31 of the second.

Four turnovers in a span of 1:51 hurt the Spartans. The Bulldogs tied the game at 57 on a Junior Ballard 3-point jumper with 9:43 left in the second. Orlando Robinson caught a pass from Anthony Holland to make a layup and give the Bulldogs a 2-point lead, 59-57, with 8:47 left in the second.

Ralph Agee made a game-tying layup, but Fresno State used a 10-0 run to take a 10-point lead, 69-59, with 4:07 left in the second. The Bulldog defense shut down the Spartan offense, holding them to only 19 points in the second. The Bulldogs won 79-64.

FSU improved to 4-3, 2-3 Mountain West. Orlando Robinson led all scorers with 23 points. Four Bulldogs players finished in double figures.

SJSU fell to 2-7, 0-5 Mountain West. Richard Washington led all scorers with 30 points.

The Spartans and Bulldogs meet again on Sunday, January 10 at 4 pm PT.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:Tommy Lasorda Ambassador and Character of the game

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Signed MLB ball by former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy LaSorda that is part of the author’s sports memorabilia collection (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Tommy Lasorda Ambassador and Character of the game

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

With the passing of Tommy Lasorda, baseball lost a baseball man, Ambassador of the game and a character in every sense of the word. He was a Hall of Fame manager than won two World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His name became synonymous with his love for Dodger Blue and the franchise. His playing career as a pitcher was short, in the mid 1950’s with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Kansas City Athletics, also pitched in Cuba in the old Cuban Professional Winter League. Lasorda passed this Thursday January 7, 2021 in Los Angeles.

He was 93 years old. During the times I did spoke with him, he spoke conversational Spanish and was mostly a guy that once you met him you will like him because of his connection to the game, his sense of humor and his many stories.

In 1977 I was in Dodger Stadium covering the World Series between Tommy’s Dodger team and the New York Yankees, managed by Billy Martin. The Yankees won that Series in six games. Very early, even before the team arrived at Dodger Stadium, I was there with my tape recorder waiting for the Dodgers to arrive and my main interview in mind was Tommy Lasorda.

Those days there was not as much media as today, especially during a World Series. It was basically the local people in each city and some of the national writers and reporters. So the younger crowd gets an idea, in 1977 ESPN was not around yet, sports channels were few and mainly in places like Los Angeles and New York.

One of the biggest baseball network was WTBS the official television station of the Atlanta Braves, who televised the Braves games on cable for the whole country. I did speak with him behind the batting cage prior to the game and was lucky to get a few minutes one-on-one interview, which I feed to station in San Francisco and also WQBA AM in Miami, as I was also doing interviews and reports.

That was not the only time I was to speak to Lasorda. But in that instance in 1977, I had to go up to the press box and with my alligator clips (an instrument used to get the audio from a tape recorded to a radio station for airing) for a feed of the interview with Tommy who was popular in Miami with the Cuban community, he was the Grand Marshall for the largest Cuban-American parade at Calle Ocho.

If you walked inside Tommy Lasorda’s office inside the Dodgers clubhouse at Dodger Stadium, you will see the walls decorated with a Who’s Who of Hollywood, photos with Frank Sinatra, to Bob Hope to a galaxy of other movie stars. He was the perfect character for a city that is the capital of show-business.

Tommy could be funny and sometimes not very funny, if he lost a game, he was not in a good mood and would take him longer to have his post game pasta meal he loved. He was the owner of a Pasta and Ribs restaurant for a few years.

Last time I saw Tommy Lasorda it was at Dodger Stadium when the LA Angels were playing, a few years ago. He was walking very slowly and had a handler with him. I was not aware he was going to walk inside the Angels dressing room.

My focus with my cameraman was waiting to interview a player for the Spanish pregame show of our telecast of the game for Fox Sports West. I just said a few words to him in Spanish; he smiled, answered briefly and kept walking.

During the last few years, Tommy will be seen many times on television sitting behind the plate at Dodger Stadium. His health deteriorated, but made it to the ripe age of 93 and saw his beloved Dodgers win the World Series in 2020, for the first time since he managed the last Dodger World Series title in 1988 over Tony La Russa’s Oakland Athletics. The autographed ball is from my personal collection.

Rest in Peace Tommy.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Join Amaury for News and Commentary podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca: Cal’s lack of Bradley in the line up fall short against WSU

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The Cal Bears couldn’t keep up with the Washington State Cougars in the second half of Thu Jan 7, 2021’s game at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley as Cal loses it’s seventh game of the season (image from @CalMBBall)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael Cal (5-7) had suffered it’s third straight loss and last night the latest to the Washington State Cougars (9-1) one of the winningest teams in the Pac 12.

#2 One player that Cal had a hard time shutting down was Cougars guard Issac Bonton who led with 21 points, he took advantage of having a hot hand and being able to take his shot.

#3 The Cougars had three players in double figures, Bonton, center Efe Abogidi who finished second with 12 points and guard Noah Williams with 11 points. The way the Cougars have been on offense even three players in double figures could spell doom.

#4 Cal badly misses Matt Bradley they also had three players in double figures but low double figures with Andre Kelly 11 points, Lars Thiemann and Ryan Betley both had ten points but trying to keep up with the Cougars proved too much in the second half as the Cougars were up by eight and won the game by nine.

#5 It’s a Saturday 12 noon lunch time special at Haas Pavilion this Saturday as the Cal Bears hope to turn the page on Thursday night’s loss as they meet the Washington Huskies (1-8) but they’re not in last place the Cal Bears who have won five games are 0-5 in the conference and are in last place in the Pac 12 standings.

Michael Duca does Cal Bears podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca Fri Jan 8, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Washington State’s effective defense keeps Cal winless against Pac-12 competition, 71-60

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–Two developing clubs devoid of blue chip athleticism or the confidence that comes with experience aren’t going to deliver a college basketball masterpiece in a Haas Pavilion populated by empty seats.

Instead of extended bombast punctuated with fastbreaks, think stringing together quality possessions, starting with two or three.

Washington State embraced the mundane far better than Cal in locking down on defense and hitting open shots in a 71-60 win on Thursday night.

The Cougars still don’t have a marquee win but improved to 9-1. The Bears fell to 5-7 and are still looking for their first Pac-12 victory.

The Bears played without leading scorer Matt Bradley but welcomed back Grant Anticevich, who showed some rust after an appendectomy two weeks ago. That combination contributed to Cal’s tepid 34 percent shooting from the floor, but coach Mark Fox expressed greater disappointment in his team’s effort on the glass.

“I was really disappointed in how we rebounded the ball,” Fox said of the 45-28 difference on the backboards.

The Bears weathered WSU’s 15-2 run towards the end of the first half to climb within 31-28 at the break, only to see the Cougars take control again in the opening minutes of the second half. Noah Williams’ layup gave WSU a 51-36 lead with 12:14 remaining. That gap proved insurmountable with the Bears missing shots while battling WSU’s length and aggressiveness.

“It’s harder for us to score without Matt, but we’ve got to find a way to manufacture some points,” Fox said.

The Bears were led by Andre Kelly with 11 points. Ryan Betley and Lars Thiemann each added 10 points, but Makale Foreman, Cal’s most likely offensive source in Bradley’s absence was 1 for 7 from distance and finished with 7 points.

Isaac Boyton led all scorers with 22 points, and versatile freshman Efe Abogidi added 12 points and nine rebounds to aid Washington State.

The Bears host Washington at Haas on Saturday at noon.

Williams’ triple-double leads Cardinal past Washington 91-75

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The Stanford Cardinals’ Ziaire Williams (3) goes for the throw down as the Cardinal defeated the Washington Huskies at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz on Thu Jan 7, 2021 (gostanford.com photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, January 7, 2021

Ziaire Williams earned Stanford men’s basketball’s first triple-double in 13 years on Thursday, as the Cardinal defeated Washington 91-75 in a home-away-from-home game played in Santa Cruz due to Santa Clara County enforced COVID-19 restrictions.

Williams, a freshman, scored 12 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. It was the second triple-double in Stanford men’s basketball history, and the first since Brook Lopez earned one in 2007.

Williams opened the night with a blocked shot, a rebound on the Huskies’ second shot, and an assist on Spencer Jones’s layup that sparked a 12-0 run to open the game for Stanford (7-3 overall, 3-1 Pac-12).

Early in the first half, Washington (1-8, 0-4) pulled to within 14-5 on a 3-pointer by Quade Green. Eighteen seconds later, Brandon Angel hit a 3 for Stanford, and the Cardinal lead remained in double digits for the rest of the game.

Oscar da Silva scored 17 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds, recording his second straight double-double. Jones led the Cardinal with 18 points, including four 3s.

Stanford made 34 of 66 from the field (52 percent) and held a commanding 47-31 rebounding edge. The Cardinal were without injured starters Daejon Davis (leg) and Bryce Wills (knee).

Marcus Tsohonis led Washington with 24 points – 19 in the second half. Green and Jamal Bey each added 15 points for the Huskies.

Up next, the Cardinal host Washington State on Saturday, again in Santa Cruz.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: It’s a Brand New World for Women in Sports

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Boston Red Sox minor league coach Bianca Smith in Jan 4, 2021 tweet from the Red Sox welcoming Smith to the organization as coach making her the first black female in MLB history (photo from @RedSox)

It’s a Brand New World for Women in Sports

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Recently the Boston Red Sox hired Bianca Smith, the first black female coach in professional baseball history. She was assigned as a minor league coach in the Boston organization.

On November of 2020 Kim Ng was hired as the General Manager of the Miami Marlins, first woman GM and first Asian-American. And there are other women ascending into the professional baseball world. There is one category in Sports where woman are also under represented, Sports Agents.

Rachel Luba is an up-coming star in this field. A sports agent named to Forbes under 30 lists in 2021 of the Young Entrepreneur stars. Luba currently represents Trevor Bauer, who won the Cy Young Award in 2020 with the Cincinnati Reds and today is the most famous free-agent pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Last year, Bauer declined the team’s qualifying offer of $18.9 million to stay and pitch in 2021. Rachel Luba is currently negotiating a contract on behalf of her client and pitching star with different clubs.

At 29 years of age Rachel Luba is an Attorney and Baseball Agent in a male dominated field. She did not play baseball, but was a Gymnast in her high school days in Monterey, California, were she was born. Since High School her major career objective was to be a sports agent. She got her Degree in Communications at UCLA, where she also was a gymnast and later in 2016 graduated with a Law Degree from Pepperdine University.

Luba worked for the Major League Players Association and also Beverly Hills Sports Council, working on salary arbitration cases. Now she is close, perhaps, of making big news for her biggest client one of the most coveted baseball players in MLB, Trevor Bauer.

The New York Mets under their President (ex-Oakland A’S President Sandy Alderson) just acquired superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor and right handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland team. The trade puts the Mets in the ‘thick of things’ against their top rival, the 2020 NL East Champion Atlanta Braves.

There are other teams trying to come back into contention, like the Los Angeles Angels, who need to give the great Mike Trout more support and catapult that club to their first playoffs since 2014.

In the American League there is no team in need of pitching more than the Angels. especially starting pitching and one of the caliber of Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer could be a big fish to catch in the team with the biggest Trout.

Rachel Luba could soon find a suitor for the #1 free agent pitcher in the baseball market and when that happens, she would have landed her biggest high profile athlete. By then the whole world would have learned of that. Good luck to her as an agent in her young career in the business.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead announcer for the Oakland A’s for Spanish radio on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Cardinal host Washington tonight; Cardinal have won five of last six games

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Oregon State’s Rodrigue Andela (34) and the Cardinal’s Oscar da Silva (13) go for the tip off in the first half at Oregon State University on Mon Jan 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal (6-3) got another convincing win over the Oregon State Beavers (5-4) last Tuesday night at Oregon State 81-71 for their fifth win in their last six games.

#2 Jerry in the first half a battle neither team was caving in and the first half ended with a 33-33 tie.

#3 In the second half the Cardinal had a good run pulling away with a ten point win. Cardinal head coach Jerod Haase had the offense work the ball distribution that got ahead of the Beavers.

#4 Oscar da Silva had a big night against the Beavers leading the Cardinal with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.

#5 The Cardinal play their next two home games at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz due to the Covid-19 restrictions in Santa Clara County banning all games at Stanford. The Cardinal will host the Washington Huskies (1-7) tonight.

Join Jerry for Stanford Cardinal basketball coverage each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg Thu Jan 7, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Bills going into playoffs red hot who can stop them?; Don’t count out Wilson and the Seahawks; plus more

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Josh Allen (17) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Munson)

On Headline Sports with Jessica:

#1 Jessica were going to take a look at the NFL Playoffs games for this Saturday and Sunday and we’ll start with the red hot Buffalo Bills (13-3) who will be hosting the Indianapolis Colts (11-5). The Bills used two quarterbacks in their last game against Miami Dolphins with Bills starting quarterback Josh Allen 224 yards passing and three touchdowns. Allen should be a force against the Colts this Saturday.

#2 The Seattle Seahawks (12-4) are coming off a win against the San Francisco 49ers 26-23 in Arizona. The Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 181 yards, two touchdowns against the 49ers. The Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams (10-6) for this Saturday’s playoff game.

#3 Jessica in the third playoff game scheduled for this Saturday the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) are in Washington to face Team Washington (7-9). In the Bucs last game they handled the Atlanta Falcons (4-12) with a 44-27 win. How do you see them matching up against Washington as they come in favored.

#4 Sunday playoff games start with Baltimore Ravens (11-5) at the Tennessee Titans (11-5). The Ravens quarterback LeMar Jackson threw for 118 yards and three touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday 38-3 and the Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill who help defeat the Houston Texans 41-38 threw for 216 yards and one touchdown.

#5 The Chicago Bears (8-8) will visit the New Orleans Saints (12-4) this Sunday at the Superdome. The Saints made easy work of the Carolina Panthers (5-11) to close out their regular season 33-7 in last Sunday’s game. Quarterback Drew Brees who came off rib injuries threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Talk about who you like in the Bears and Saints match up.

#6 To close out the playoff schedule on Sunday Night Football playoffs the Cleveland Browns (11-5) who defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) last Sunday 24-22. Frustrations got so heated that the Steelers had some pushing and shoving among teammates. The Steelers who didn’t have starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the line up started Mason Rudolph 315 yards and two touchdowns and Joshua Dobbs came in and threw for two yards. Jessica how do you see the Browns-Steelers this Sunday as they match up for the second consecutive week.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong Thu Jan 7, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Clippers defense shuts down Curry and Warriors for 108-101 win

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The Los Angeles Clippers Patrick Beverly (21) defends Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry (30) on Wed Jan 6, 2021 at Chase Center in San Francisco in their first of two meetings this week. (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors faced another team with aspirations to win the NBA championship this season. They had to face the Los Angeles Clippers coached by Tyron Lue. The Clips, still smarting from being eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs last year, wanted to show everyone that they are a title contender.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are the team leaders. Their game plan was not to let Stephen Curry get easy shots and shut him down from three-point range. Their game plan worked as Curry could not his game going at all.

The Clippers defense held Curry to 13 points. He made one three in six tries, and he was two-for-four from the free-throw line. It was tough to think that Curry could miss two free throws in a game, but it happened. The game was close until halfway through the fourth quarter when the Clippers pulled away to win 108-101.

Neither team put on an offensive show in the first quarter. The Warriors defense held the Clippers to 21 points. On most nights, the Warriors would be ecstatic with such a performance. However, on Wednesday night, the Warriors offense floundered as they put a measly 15 points on the board to trail 21-15 after the first 12 minutes of play. 

The Warriors offense woke up in the second quarter. They outscored the Clippers 36-31 to close within one point 52-51 at the half. Eric Paschall, relishing his role coming off the bench, helped the Warriors get close. 

In the third quarter, The Warriors came back to take the lead 61-60 for the first time in the game. The lead didn’t last long as Los Angeles finished the quarter with a six-point advantage 83-77. The Warriors fought back to tie the game at 93.

Draymond Green committed a flagrant foul to send Kawhi Leonard to the charity stripe for two free throws and possession of the ball. Leonard made both free throws and was fouled again. He made both free throws to put LA ahead 97-93. The Clippers then made three threes to make put them ahead 106-97. They held on to win 108-101.

Game Notes and Stats: With the loss, the Warriors are 4-4 for the year. The Clippers are 6-3. 

Andrew Wiggins and Eric Paschall led the Warriors with 19 points each. Wiggins was 8-for-12 from the floor, and he connected on two threes. Paschall’s 19 points were a season-high, and he has scored in double figures for the sixth straight game. James Wiseman had ten points and four rebounds. Steph finished with 13. No other Warrior was in double figures.

The teams meet Friday night again at the Chase Center. The game will start at 7 pm.