The San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors clash on Sunday evening in the Bay Area at the Chase Center. This isn’t going to look like a typical Warriors game, as Stephen Curry will be sidelined with a foot injury.
Curry is not expected back until at least mid-April. That’s being generous. He suffered a sprained ligament in his foot so that Steph could miss the start of the playoffs at least.
GAME DAY pic.twitter.com/PRvZgcSggn
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 20, 2022
The playoffs begin on April 16. In other words, the Warriors are praying hard that the mid-April timetable holds up. How many times do we see injuries drag on in the NBA, though?
This is a tough injury for the Warriors after Draymond Green returned to the starting lineup. They were waiting a long time for Green to come back for a healthier starting five.
Now, only two games later, Steph suffers an injury, and the Warriors are back to dealing with a serious absence in their lineup on the floor.
That stings for a team that is currently in a heated race with the Memphis Grizzlies for the second-best seed in the Western Conference. Memphis is currently on top of the Warriors by a half-game.
On Friday, Ja Morant sustained a knee injury against the Atlanta Hawks, though it does not appear to be as serious as Curry’s ankle. The Grizzlies are probably better than Golden State without Morant and Curry.
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 19, 2022
The Spurs have lost three of their previous four attempts going into the Bay Area. They are coming off a disappointing effort versus the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, 124-91.
Head below for our free Spurs vs. Warriors prediction on March 20, 2022.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Odds and Team Statistics:
The following odds are courtesy of BetOnline:
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | +6 (-107) | +205 | Over 227 (-110) |
| Golden State Warriors | -6 (-113) | -245 | Under 227 (-110) |
| Team Data | Memphis Grizzlies | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 27-44 | 47-23 |
| ATS Record | 34-36-1 | 35-31-4 |
| Away/Home Record | 13-21 | 29-8 |
| ATS Away/Home | 18-15-1 | 20-15-2 |
| Points Per Game | 112.7 | 111.2 |
| Points Against Per Game | 113.7 | 105.1 |
| Field Goal % | 46.6 | 46.9 |
| Three Point % | 35.0 | 36.2 |
Spurs vs. Warriors Prediction:
Draymond Green is back for the Warriors. When he was playing, the Warriors looked unstoppable. They were rolling and much more competitive with the Phoenix Suns.
However, the Warriors have regressed to 9.5 games back since then. If there’s any question about how valuable Green is to the Warriors, this stretch answered everything.
"He's EVERYWHERE!"
Powerful Connections, presented by @Xfinity, looks at how 2⃣3⃣'s shot-blocking ability impacts the entire defense ? pic.twitter.com/Q3M3GbVacO
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 19, 2022
The defense was not nearly as efficient for Golden State without Green. In any case, Golden State still ranks as one of the best defenses in the NBA.
The Warriors have conceded 105.1 points against per game. They are the second-best team in the league, with a 43.8% field goal percentage allowed.
As Green gets back into form, expect to see the Warriors to be tougher to crack. However, Curry on the shelf complicates things for the offense.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Trends:
- 0-4 ATS in their previous four games
- 2-7 ATS in their previous nine games versus a team with a winning record
- UNDER is 6-1 in their previous seven games versus a team with a winning percentage at home better than 60%
- UNDER is 5-2 in their previous seven games
- UNDER is 3-1-1 in their previous five games versus the Warriors
- 5-1 ATS in their previous six games
- 4-0-1 ATS in their previous five games on three-day rest
- 2-7 ATS in their previous nine games as a betting favorite at home
- UNDER is 4-1 in their previous five games
- UNDER is 9-4 in their previous 13 games after a double-digit loss at home
Golden State is 12th with 111.2 points per game this season. They’ve been consistently around that mark recently, with Curry in the lineup as well.
Through their previous five outings, Golden State has scored an average of 112.2 points per game. The defense was strong with 106 points against and a 43.% field goal percentage.
The Spurs have leaks in their defense, but expect Golden State to attempt to turn this into a slow game without Curry on the floor.
They know their defense can win this one without getting into a run and gun game with Dejounte Murray. If the Warriors fall into that trap, this could be an interesting finish at the Chase Center.
San Antonio is scoring 111.5 points per game on the road. Murray and the Spurs can be tough, but Green should be the difference for Golden State.
I’m opting to play the total in this one, with the UNDER a good option in the Bay Area between the Spurs and Warriors.
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