Golden State Warriors' defense not enough in 99-90 loss to San Antonio Spurs

Despite a solid defensive effort, the Golden State Warriors fell to the San Antonio Spurs, 99-90 at Oracle Arena tonight.

The Warriors held the Spurs to 39.3% shooting, but shot 3-for-15 from the three point line themselves as they just never got anything going offensively (again).

Yet there's no shame in losing to the Spurs at this time of year, even if they're coming to town with Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili playing. And that's especially true when the Warriors were playing without Andre Iguodala, Andrew Bogut typically hobbled, and David Lee leaving the game with an apparent hamstring injury.

With others hurt or hobbling, it came down to a battle of the point guards with Tony Parker winning that battle with 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting while Stephen Curry also got 20 but had six turnovers.

The Spurs proved yet again to be the better team and franchise from top to bottom, able to come out and beat their playoff team peers in the Western Conference at less than full strength.

[Insert glowing comments about the Spurs here]

Yes, it was a lost opportunity with Portland also losing tonight. But ultimately, the most important development is that the Warriors will have a break until hosting Memphis on Friday night.

And as they look ahead to the stretch run, they can use every minute of that break - hopefully on the other side of it, they can emerge a bit healthier and ready to make their final push for the playoffs.

Nobody really had a complete game, so I'd rather commend Klay Thompson for his play lately than Harrison Barnes for his +1 (second time in three games that he's shot 1-for-6 and ended up with a +! Way to go!).

Over the past three games entering tonight's, Klay Thompson was averaging 25 points on 50% shooting. He fell short of that tonight with just 16 points on 7-for-16 shooting, but the positive development lately - and throughout the season - has been his willingness to do a bit more off the dribble. The Warriors are a team that can easily fall in love with their jumpers in part because that is a strength that has obviously carried them at times. But on nights when things aren't falling, it's nice to have guys like Thompson who are able to get to the bucket to get easier scoring opportunities.

Anyway, meh - get that rest guys and move on.