NBA 2018-19: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs: 3 Talking Points

Final Score: Spurs defeat Warriors, 104-92

The Golden State Warriors were in San Antonio to take on the Spurs, who were on a three-game losing streak. The visitors did not have Stephen Curry(groin) and Draymond Green(toe) and the short-handed Warriors could not get it going and fell to the Spurs.

Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson combined for 51 points but struggled miserably from the field. Their shots did not fall in and did not appear comfortable in the absence of two of their All-Star players.

Let us take a look at three talking points from this matchup.

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#3 Kevin Durant's double-double performance (struggled from the field)

Kevin Durant posted a double-double but the Warriors lost

Kevin Durant has started the season strongly and is posting big numbers on a nightly basis. In the absence of Stephen Curry, Durant is shouldering the burden of carrying this team on his back but the team is not able to pick up wins.

Durant had himself a night and posted a double-double but the Warriors lost to the Spurs. The two-time finals MVP had 26 points on the night, to go along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists but struggled from the field.

He shot 8-for-25 from the field, including just 1-for-8 from long range but contributed in other departments to keep the Warriors in the game. He went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line and found ways to score points despite struggling otherwise on the offensive end.

This game once again showed us how important Stephen Curry is to this team and the Warriors have now lost four of their last five games. They are now 12-6 on the season and are at the second spot on the Western Conference Standings. Expect their record to get worse if Curry does not come back any sooner. Warriors will get a three-day break before they host the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Oracle Arena.

#2 Rudy Gay's efficient shooting night

Rudy Gay was on fire from the field

Stat line: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks on 60.0 % shooting

Rudy Gay is in a terrific form this season and is averaging 14.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game on a red-hot 51.6 % shooting from the field, including ridiculous 55.6 % from beyond the arc.

He was phenomenal against the Warriors and scored 19 points, grabbed 5 rebounds to go along with three blocks. He went 6-for-10 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the three-pointer line. His performance helped the Spurs snap a three-game slide and will be high on confidence after beating the Warriors.

It seems to appear that Rudy Gay has worked on his three-point shooting in the off-season as he is shooting over 50 percent from the field and also from distance this season. It is to be noted that he has never shot over 40 percent from the three-point line in a single-season in his career and his improved three-point shooting is helping the Spurs, big time.

#1 LaMarcus Aldridge's monster performance

Aldridge posted a double-double and had a monster night

Stat line: 24 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks on 62.5 % shooting

LaMarcus Aldridge is having a terrific season and is putting up big numbers, night after night. The walking double-double is averaging 17.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game and complementing DeMar DeRozan in a way no one would have expected.

Aldridge was dominant in the paint and bullied the Warriors' defenders collecting easy baskets. He was also money from the mid-range as he knocked them down consistently. He finished the night shooting 10-for-16 from the field on 62.5 % shooting and the Warriors had no answers for Aldridge.

He outplayed Kevin Durant in the fourth quarter and was an absolute monster, finished the game with 24 points and 18 rebounds. With this win, the Spurs are now 8-7 on the season and will next play the New Orleans Pelicans in their second game of a back-to-back.