If you had Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant or Draymond Green as Warriors’ MVP for Game 3 of their third-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, you had it wrong.
JaVale McGee was the leading scorer in the first half of Game 3
McGee scored 16 points against the Warriors while LaMarcus Aldridge went quiet with only six.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Completely wrong.
In fact, it’s been JaVale McGee who’s been the difference for a Golden State team that was struggling early on to match blows with a battered Spurs lineup. McGee had a game-high 16 points in just 11 minutes in the first half. His scoring output set a new playoff career-high in just two quarters of action, and he did so on an efficient six-of-eight shooting.
McGee is having the type of game the Spurs wish LaMarcus Aldridge could have for them. In the absence of Kawhi Leonard, who is out with an ankle injury, Aldridge hasn’t stepped up. He’s got only six points on three-of-nine shooting, and San Antonio’s been outscored by a team-high 18 points with him on the floor.
The Warriors are taking a nine-point lead into the half, and McGee has been responsible for much of their lead so far. Hopefully, the Spurs can get more out of their $80 million man.
Otherwise, they could find themselves in a 3-0 hole. And history says there’s no digging themselves out of that ditch.
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