NBA Friday: Spurs beat the Warriors in Western Conference semifinals rematch

There was a little more animosity than your average regular season game in Friday’s matchup between the Spurs and the Warriors; it was the first time the two had met since last year’s playoffs. For both teams, this was a reminder of last year’s draining six-game playoff series. And as it went in the playoffs, the Spurs came out on top, winning, 76-74.

Golden State was left at a disadvantage as its best player, Stephen Curry, was sidelined from the contest with a bruised left ankle. Curry -- who is arguably the best shooter in the NBA -- injured that ankle in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 106-93 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Then he smashed the Lakers with a cutting dunk through the lane for emphasis.

Carter elbowed Adams in the head with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter of the Mavs’ 107-93 loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City. The elbow appeared to be in retaliation for an Adams elbow just moments before:

After enjoying a solid campaign off the bench for the Mavs in 2012-13, Carter has gotten off to a slow start this season. The 36-year-old is averaging 9.2 points while shooting just 37.0 percent overall and 26.3 percent from three-point range.

Prior to Wednesday’s clunker, Curry had been playing exceptionally well. On the year, the point guard is averaging 18.6 points and 9.2 assists while shooting 50.0 percent overall and 46.2 percent from deep.

Meanwhile, Douglas has struggled on the young season, averaging 4.2 points on 34.8 percent shooting. The dropoff from Curry to Douglas is obviously steep, which would make grabbing a win on the road against the Spurs awfully tough without the star point guard.

UPDATE (4:30 p.m. ET): Steve Clifford will not coach the Charlotte Bobcats Friday, undergoing a procedure to place two stents into his heart but will return “soon,” the team officially announced. Patrick Ewing will coach the Bobcats in his absence.

Clifford is 3-2 in his young head coaching career with Charlotte. The Bobcats hired the 52-year-old this past offseason after letting go of Mike Dunlap.