OAKLAND — Few players revel in a challenge or obstacle like Draymond Green. Steve Kerr loves that about his rugged power forward.
“He seems to be at his best when things go wrong for us,” Kerr said about Green. “We have to have that fight. He is one of the most competitive people I have ever been around, and when he gets going like that defensively, and he is all over the floor, blocking shots, getting steals, yelling — that’s when we’re at our best.”
Spurs power forward Lamarcus Aldridge had it going in the second half of Golden State’s 110-107 win on Thursday night. The Spurs extended their lead to eight points with fewer than five minutes remaining. As Durant shouldered the offensive load, Green blanketed Aldridge, who failed to record a field goal in the final four minutes.
“It’s tough, you when a guy got it going like that, you get thrown in the fire, it’s a bit tough,” Green said. “But I always accept that challenge. That’s what I live for when it comes to basketball, for challenges like that when a guy has it going. It’s money time. We have to come up with stops to get back in the game.”
Green and the Warriors got just enough stops as they staged their final push in the waning minutes. With 1:33 remaining, Green’s short jumper gave Golden State the lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
The Warriors reached their seventh straight win despite Stephen Curry leaving the game early with an ankle injury. Green took it upon himself to fill the void with the certain type of production only he provides Golden State.
“Not necessarily take the game over, but just try to control the pace of the game, try to make sure we are solid,” Green said. “Try to be better defensively, try to lead the guys even better. When you get a guy like Steph going down, it changes everything. So I just try to be better in every facet of the game, and that is always my focus.”