San Antonio Spurs edged by Golden State Warriors 113-111 in Game 1 of NBA Western Conference Finals after Kawhi Leonard Re-Injures Ankle

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

The San Antonio Spurs came ready to play against the defending NBA Western Conference Champions Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2017 Western Conference Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on Sunday, May 14, 2017, leading the Warriors for most of the game until about a minute and a half left to play in the game as the Warriors took advantage of the Spurs All-Star Forward Kawhi Leonard re-injuring his left ankle and forced to leave the game with 7:43 minutes left in the third period to edge the Spurs 113-111.

The Spurs enjoyed a 20 point lead when Kawhi Leonard went down due to falling on Warriors Center Zaza Pachulia foot when landing from a jump shot attempt in the third period.  Earlier in the same period, Kawhi Leonard re-injured his left ankle when falling on top a Spurs teammante’s foot on the bench upon landing from a jump shot attempt, but Leonard was able to return to the game from this first injury only to re-injuring it with Pachulia a few minutes later.

Without Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs lost their focus and composure in the game allowing the Warriors to score 18 unanswered points and eventually rally in the final minute of the game to nudge the Spurs 113-111 in a hard fought game.

Spurs Forward LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs in scoring with 28 points and 8 rebounds while Kawhi Leonard had 26 points and 8 rebounds when he left the game.  Manu Ginoboli sank 17 points, Jonathan Simmons added 12 points, Danny Green scored 8 points, DaJounte Murray had 6 points, Pau Gasol chipped in 5 points, Patty Mills had 5 points, and Kyle Anderson added 4 points to round out the Spurs scoring in the game.

The Warriors were led by All-Star Guard Steph Curry with 40 points followed by Kevin Durant’s 34 points, Zaza Pachulia added 11 points, Dramond Green had 9 points, and K. Thompson chipped in 6 points to lead the Warriors offensively.

The Spurs dominated the Warriors for two and one-half periods but allowed the Warriors to out score them the remainder of the game after Kawhi Leonard left the game with 7:43 in the third period.  This is one game the Spurs let get away from them and one the Warriors were saved by Lady Luck as a result of Kawhi Leonard’s re-injury and departure from the game.

Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich will regroup with his players, review Game 1 tape footage, and return with a new strategy for Game 2 against the Warriors on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Oakland, California.

The status of Kawhi Leonard’s ankle injury is unknown as of press time and whether he will be able to return to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals Series.