Fans disappointed by star shortage in Spurs-Warriors affair
What was originally billed as an all-important matchup between the top two teams in the West ultimately materialized as the "DNP-Bowl."
In a fight for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, the Golden State Warriors rested their regulars Saturday, instead trotting out a starting five of Shaun Livingston, Matt Barnes, Patrick McCaw, Kevon Looney, and Zaza Pachulia.
The San Antonio Spurs didn't do much better, starting Patty Mills, Danny Green, Kyle Anderson, David Lee, and Dewayne Dedmon.
The NBA's graphic previewing the contest featured veterans Pachulia and Pau Gasol.
As they sit 1.5 games out of the top spot in the West, the @spurs host the @warriors 8:30pm/et #NBAonABC. pic.twitter.com/UxDhiCvkku
— NBA (@NBA) March 11, 2017
Those who traveled from all over - and paid a lot of money - to see the stars in person were disappointed. ESPN interviewed a couple who flew in from Sacramento, along with a man who bought four tickets for $1,500 each to sit near the Dubs' bench and was "heartbroken" he couldn't see Stephen Curry play.
In addition to the reigning back-to-back MVP, the Warriors held out Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala on the second half of a back-to-back set, while Kevin Durant remains sidelined with a leg injury.
For the home team, Kawhi Leonard is dealing with a concussion, Tony Parker is battling back stiffness, and a heart concern has ruled LaMarcus Aldridge out indefinitely. Even without their top talents, the Spurs managed to give the visitors a 107-85 shellacking to inch within a half-game of the No. 1 seed and clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr sympathized with fans who missed out on the stars, saying he "genuinely (feels) bad" for them, but he remained firm on his decision.
"Our team has been through the ringer the last couple of weeks," he told reporters postgame, as quoted by ESPN's Michael C. Wright. "The travel has really worn us out, and we really needed to get through this game. I am really happy that those guys are going to get several days rest before our next game, and I think this will put us on a good course going forward. We needed to do this."