The San Antonio Spurs have built impressive momentum and head into their meeting with the Golden State Warriors on a ten-game winning streak. After two defeats at the start of the season, the Spurs have improved considerably and are already closing in on the Western Conference leaders. They were particularly convincing on their recent four-game road trip, although they had to overturn a 22-point deficit in their latest game against the Chicago Bulls. The Spurs eventually won 124:119.
San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama remains the key to the San Antonio Spurs' success. Against the Chicago Bulls, the Frenchman recorded 32 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in just 31 minutes. His presence severely limits opponents' options in the paint, while his size and mobility cause problems on offence. De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper provide additional threats: their speed allows the Spurs to punish opponents for turnovers and slow defensive transitions.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors had also enjoyed a strong run, winning eight consecutive games, but their defeat to the Houston Rockets (108:115) was particularly painful. Stephen Curry suffered an injury after contact with Alperen Sengun in the first quarter and had to leave the court early. In his six minutes on the floor, the Warriors' star had little chance to influence the game, and without him their offence lost its main playmaker and most dangerous shooter. Before the injury, Curry was averaging around 30 points per game and shooting 45.7% from three-point range.
San Antonio Spurs vs Golden State Warriors Prediction
Stephen Curry's absence is especially damaging given the visitors' other personnel problems. Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are all on the list of absentees, while Kristaps Porzingis is missing games through illness. Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg can take on more shots, but replacing Curry's influence on the structure of the offence will be extremely difficult. If he does not recover in time for the game, the Golden State Warriors risk getting bogged down in prolonged half-court possessions and struggling to score.
The defensive statistics also favour the hosts: the San Antonio Spurs allow opponents an average of around 108 points per game, ranking among the league's best teams in this category. With Wembanyama on the floor, the visitors will find it difficult to compensate for Curry's absence through drives and scoring around the basket. Admittedly, an 8.5-point handicap calls for a convincing Spurs win, and the head-to-head record suggests that the Golden State Warriors can make games competitive at this venue. However, the hosts' current form and their opponents' absences make such a margin of victory quite plausible.
