De’Aaron Fox led a balanced attack with 27 points, five reserves combined for 57 points on the second night of a back-to-back, and the San Antonio Spurs rallied from 16 down to overtake the Golden State Warriors 126-113 in San Francisco on Wednesday.
Victor Wembanyama backed Fox with 26 points for the Spurs, who swept the Los Angeles Lakers and the Warriors on consecutive nights to take a six-game winning streak into the All-Star break.
After the Warriors exploded for 38 points in the first period, the San Antonio defense tightened the screws and limited the hosts to progressively fewer points — 29, 27 and 19 — over the final three periods while erasing a double-double deficit and gradually pulling away.
Seeking a second straight win without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Kristaps Porzingis, the Warriors led 86-70 after a Gui Santos hoop just prior to the midpoint of the third quarter.
However, Keldon Johnson helped turn the game in the Spurs’ favor by scoring seven straight points to ignite a 24-8 period-ending run that drew the visitors into a 94-all tie.
The break between quarters didn’t stall San Antonio’s momentum, as Harrison Barnes threw down a dunk and Johnson and Wembanyama combined for three free throws, a five-point spurt that gave the visitors the lead for good.
Fox shot 11-for-16 for the Spurs, who outshot the hosts 49.5% to 46.2%.
Wembanyama also found time for a team-high nine rebounds and four assists for the Spurs, while Fox shared team-high assist honors with Dylan Harper with eight to complement three steals.
Harper (14 points) was part of San Antonio’s difference-making bench crew with Johnson (21), Barnes (10), Carter Bryant (eight) and Luke Kornet (four). The Spurs’ reserves outscored their Golden State counterparts 57-44.
Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton and Moses Moody had 17 points apiece for the Warriors, who lost despite outscoring the Spurs 48-30 from beyond the arc. Fifteen of Melton’s points came on five long-range hoops.
Green was the game’s leading rebounder with 12, and he added a team-high eight assists.
Brandin Podziemski finished with 16 points, Quinten Post 12 and Gary Payton II 10 for Golden State, which had won its first two games against the Spurs this season. Santos had four steals to go with nine points, six assists and five rebounds.
