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SAN FRANCISCO: Stephen Curry capped a season-best, 49-points performance by sinking the game- winning free throws in the final seconds as the visiting Golden State Warriors outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 109-108 on Friday in an NBA Cup clash.
The Warriors swept a two-game mini-series in San Antonio over three nights and won for the third time in their past four games overall. Golden State improved to 1-1 in West Group C play in the league’s in-season tournament, while the Spurs fell to 1-1.
San Antonio led by 10 early in the fourth quarter before Curry, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski shot Golden State back in front at 101-100 with 3:37 remaining.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama jumped over a defender for a tip-in to expand the lead to 108-105 with 1:06 left. Jimmy Butler III’s layup cut the gap to a point, and after a stunning block by Wembanyama and a miss by the Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox, Curry drove the lane and was fouled with 6.4 seconds to play.
Curry made both free throws. After a timeout, San Antonio went back to Fox, whose contested jumper at the buzzer bounced twice on the rim before falling away.
Butler finished with 21 points while Will Richard and Podziemski added 10 each for the Warriors.
Wembanyama led San Antonio with 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Fox had 24 points and 10 assists. Julian Champagnie added 14 points, and Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell hit for 13 and 11, respectively.
San Antonio enjoyed a 20-18 advantage after 12 minutes of play. Golden State knotted the game at 28 on Quinten Post’s 3-pointer with 8:40 to play in the second quarter.
The Warriors grabbed a lead thanks to their long-distance shooting, as 3-pointers by Curry and Podziemski and two from Richard put Golden State up 40-33. San Antonio closed the half on a 10-4 run to get within 47-45 at the break.
Curry’s 18 points led all scorers before halftime. Fox paced the Spurs with 14 first-half points.
Golden State used a 14-6 run to take a 68-66 lead with 3:36 to play in the third. The surge was capped by highlight-reel bank shot from Curry, who was fouled on the attempt and completed a three-point play.