Curry scores 29, leads Warriors’ rally over Spurs 110-98 (Mar 29, 2017)

Curry scores 29, leads Warriors’ rally over Spurs 110-98 (Mar 29, 2017)
SAN ANTONIO,TX - MARCH 29: Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs tries to steal the ball from Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors at AT&T Center on March 29, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Golden State was emotionally prepared to shrug off a 22-point deficit during the first quarter in a key showdown with San Antonio.

After all, the Warriors have battled the scrutiny of failing to win an NBA championship last year after a record-setting regular season and have fought through a knee injury to Kevin Durant this season.

Stephen Curry scored 29 points, Klay Thompson had 23 and the Warriors rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 110-98 on Wednesday night for their ninth straight win.

”You don’t let go of the rope,” Curry said. ”Whether it ends up in a win or a loss, you can’t ever feel like you’re out of it. Understanding based on the experiences we’ve had the last three years, we have what it takes to win all sorts of way.”

Golden State extended its lead over San Antonio to 3 1/2 games for the league’s best record, beating the Spurs for the first time in three meetings this season.

The Warriors rallied to beat the Spurs a day after defeating the Rockets 113-106 in Houston, giving Golden State consecutive wins over the West’s best.

”This was a big win for us, a confidence booster,” said Warriors veteran David West, who scored 14 points. ”Because, obviously, they are two tough teams, two playoffs teams, two teams we could see possibly late in the year. I thought the guys showed great resolve and focus.”

The Spurs had a five-game winning streak halted in inglorious fashion. San Antonio got off to its best start of the season two days after dismantling Cleveland in a 29-point victory. The Spurs raced to a 33-17 lead in the opening quarter, matching their largest lead of the season after the first quarter.

”We had a great start, as everybody saw,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. ”We kind of caught them by storm at the…