In the end, the ball found Jordan Poole.
The Warriors clawed back from a 17-point deficit with a dominant fourth quarter effort, but still trailed by one point as the clock ticked under 30 seconds. Then four players fought for a loose ball like it was a fumble on a muffed punt, and it eventually spurted out to Damion Lee on the perimeter.
Lee found Poole in the corner, who drilled a 3. The Warriors then finally got the stop they needed and closed out the Spurs for one of the most exciting wins of the year.
Damion Lee and Jordan Poole (31 points) are rarely players who decide games late in the fourth quarter. But down four starters and three more rotation players, the Warriors handed the keys to their reserves on Tuesday in San Antonio.
The reserve Warriors played hungry and competed, but San Antonio never stopped hitting jump shots. Through three quarters, the Spurs shot 61.% from the field and 15-for-25 (60%) from 3 to build a commanding lead.
But led by Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga and Poole, the Golden State (39-13) outscored San Antonio 35 to 16 in the final frame to erase the deficit and complete the comeback. Without the players who are known by one name — Steph, Klay, Draymond, Iggy — as well as Andrew Wiggins, Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr., the Warriors stunned the Spurs, 124-120, in San Antonio on the second night of a back-to-back.
Here are three takeaways from Golden State’s comeback win.
Loon appreciation
The Warriors had more full-time players out on Tuesday than available. Everyone is dealing with bumps and bruises, but the second end of a back-to-back seemed like an open invitation for anyone to take the night off.
Not Kevon Looney.
GSW coach Steve Kerr said pregame that Looney wants to play whenever he’s healthy. Looney is one of six players in the entire NBA to start every game for their team this year.
Instead of resting, all Looney did was be a beast on the offensive glass, smart defending pick-and-rolls, and opportunistic with loose balls. In other words: he did his job.
Looney posted a double-double at halftime and finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. He’s now hauled in at least 10 rebounds in 15 games this season.
He’s been steady all year, and considering Draymond Green and James Wiseman’s injuries, it’s scary to think about where the Warriors might be without him.
Another strong Moses Moody performance
Moses Moody started the season 5-for-34 from behind the arc. That’s not who he is. At Arkansas, the combo guard shot 35.8% from 3. And at the G-League level, Moody has averaged 27.5 points per game for the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Back with the major league Warriors now, Moody continues to prove he’s capable of rotation minutes. He set a career-best in 3-pointers made and points for the second straight game Tuesday.
Moody plays under control. He competes on the defensive end and makes smart decisions on the perimeter and on drives. The rookie uses his athleticism in bursts — he slid his feet to take a charge on Keldon Johnson and also tried to posterize Jakob Poeltl, which earned him free throws.
The rookie finished with 20 points on 6-for-12 shooting, including 6-for-10 from deep. He added seven boards and was part of the lineup that closed out the Spurs late.
It might be a while until Moody gets to ball out in the G-League again. But surely that’s how he’d like it.
GPII exits late
The Warriors were down 15 heading into the fourth quarter. The Spurs were shooting 60% from 3 and it seemed like no matter how hard Golden State fought, they were just never going to stop missing.
But then Gary Payton II picked Derrick White’s pocket. Then he stole another one from White. Like Payton II’s done all year, he injected energy into his team like a booster shot.
The Warriors clawed within single digits.
With the Warriors down eight, Payton II jumped another passing lane, picking off an errant Dejounte Murray pass near the sideline. He quickly patted it back in bounds with his right hand, a heady play that led to points.
As the play shifted to the other end of the court, with Jonathan Kuminga flushing down a windmill dunk on the break, Payton II hobbled away from the courtside seats. He crouched down for a moment before heading to Golden State’s locker room.
Without Payton II, the Warriors continued to play tenaciously. They held San Antonio to a four-minute drought. Damion Lee’s 3 gave GSW its first lead since the opening minutes with 2:01 to play, capping a 17-point comeback.
Then Poole canned the game-winning 3 from the corner and Lee iced San Antonio out with a pair of foul shots.
No matter how impressive Golden State’s effort was, no matter how miraculous the comeback was and no matter how promising Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody looked, if Payton II’s injury is serious, that’s what this game will be remembered for. He means that much to the Warriors.
