Rookie forward Draymond Green walked out of Golden State’s practice facility Friday holding a yellow ”We Are Warriors” shirt, taking home the small souvenir to savor the team’s captivating playoff run.

Even though the season ended so painfully, the Warriors will carry more positive memories from the 2012-13 campaign than they ever imagined back in training camp. No banner will be raised and no rings will be awarded, but there was a sense of accomplishment all around.

”The expectations for us this year, we exceeded all of them plus way more,” Green said.

The Warriors overcame injury setbacks all season to earn a rare playoff berth, pulled off a first-round upset against Denver and pushed the four-time champion San Antonio Spurs to six games in the Western Conference semifinals. The franchise won more postseason games than it had in 36 years and might be on the brink of something even more special.

If Stephen Curry and Andrew Bogut can find a way to stay healthy, the Warriors believe they can be a major championship contender in the coming years.

– Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Slow at the start of the series and strong at the end, the San Antonio Spurs wore out the Golden State Warriors the way they have so many other opponents.

Tim Duncan had 19 points and six rebounds, Kawhi Leonard added 16 points and 10 rebounds and the Spurs held off a furious final rally to beat the Warriors 94-82 in Game 6 on Thursday night and advance to the Western Conference finals.

”They’ve got great character. They’re competitive. They know there’s not a million chances to do this sort of thing. They wanted it,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of his squad.

Tony Parker shook off a poor start to score 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and Tiago Splitter added a career-playoff high 14 points for San Antonio, which had a 13-point lead in the third quarter dissolve to two in the final minutes.

Stephen Curry shot 10 of 25 from the floor to score 22 points on a nagging left ankle, and Jarrett Jack had 15 points as the injury-saddled Warriors finally tired. Rookie forward Harrison Barnes also suffered a head injury in the second quarter, returned in the third and was sidelined in the fourth with a headache.

The Spurs outshot Golden State 45 percent to 39 percent and outrebounded them 46 to 40.

Second-seeded San Antonio will open the conference finals at home against Memphis on Sunday. The fifth-seeded Grizzlies eliminated Oklahoma City in five games…

Klay Thompson, who had 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting, made a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter that sliced San Antonio’s lead to three. Then Curry’s pull-up jumper brought the Warriors within 77-75 with 4:52 to play.

– Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Golden State Warriors rookie forward Harrison Barnes needed six stitches to close a cut above his right eye after a hard fall in the second quarter of a playoff game against San Antonio on Thursday night.

Barnes fell hard to the court after leaping to contest a drive from Boris Diaw. After a few minutes on the ground, Barnes was led back to the locker room. Barnes got the stitches at halftime and returned to the court to a loud ovation just before the start of the third quarter.

– Reported by the Associated Press

Tony Parker had 25 points and 10 assists, and the San Antonio Spurs held the Golden State Warriors’ starting backcourt to 13 points for a 109-91 victory Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Kawhi Leonard added 17 points, Danny Green scored 16 and Tim Duncan had 14 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio.

Harrison Barnes scored 25 points, Jarrett Jack added 20 and Carl Landry 16 for Golden State. No other Warriors player had more than nine points.

The Spurs held Mark Jackson’s self-proclaimed ”greatest shooting backcourt” in NBA history to 6-for-22 shooting. Stephen Curry finished with nine points, going 1 for 7 on 3-pointers, and Klay Thompson was held to four while not even attempting a 3.

Curry has not missed any time since turning his right ankle late in Game 3, but the injury seemed to limit his explosiveness.

Leonard stripped Curry and then outran him to the ball midway through the first quarter, feeding Parker for an uncontested layup. Curry appeared to grimace when he attempted to push off to sprint for the loose ball.

The Spurs led for all but the opening 6 minutes of the game…

Curry and Thompson were held to a combined four points on 2-for-10 shooting in the opening 16 minutes, but Barnes had 13 points and Jack seven…

Parker passed Chauncey Billups for fourth in postseason assists among active players with 832. New York’s Jason Kidd (1,258), the Lakers’ Steve Nash (1,061) and Boston’s Rajon Rondo (845) are ahead of Parker.

– Reported by Raul Dominguez of the Associated Press

Harrison Barnes had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Stephen Curry scored 22 on an injured left ankle and the Golden State Warriors rallied past the San Antonio Spurs 97-87 in overtime Sunday to even the Western Conference semifinal at two games apiece.

Jarrett Jack added 24 points in reserve and Andrew Bogut grabbed 18 rebounds to help the Warriors overcome an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation. Golden State scored the first nine points of overtime to whip the yellow-shirt wearing crowd of 19,596 into a frenzy and give this topsy-turvy series another twist.

Manu Ginobili had 21 points and Tim Duncan added 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Spurs, who were outshot 35.5 to 38 percent in what was an ugly offensive game most of the afternoon. The Warriors outrebounded San Antonio 65 to 51.

Game 5 is Tuesday in San Antonio.

The Spurs seized control of a sloppy, slugfest at the start and went cold shooting when it mattered most. Tony Parker, wearing a black sleeve around his bruised left calf, poured in 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting but never broke free the way he did by scoring 32 points the previous contest.

Ginobili hit a mid-range jumper and a 3-pointer, and Kawhi Leonard put back a rebound for an easy layup to out the Spurs ahead 80-72 with 4:49 remaining in the fourth quarter. The home sellout crowd sat down and fell silent for one of the few times in the fourth quarter all postseason with the series slipping away…

Bogut picked up three fouls in the first six minutes, plus a technical foul for arguing with an official after giving up a three-point play to Duncan. Bogut sat out the rest of the first half, and backup Festus Ezeli also had four fouls before the break.

– Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Golden State coach Mark Jackson insisted the Warriors’ historic collapse in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals would only help his team’s growth.

The young Warriors took a big step in their development Wednesday night, withstanding another furious rally by the San Antonio Spurs for a 100-91 victory to even their series at one game apiece and snap a 30-game skid in the Alamo City.

Klay Thompson had a career-high 34 points and 14 rebounds, and Stephen Curry added 22 points for Golden State, which had not won in San Antonio since Feb. 14, 1997. None of the losses was as painful as the one Monday.

”I truly believe the trials and tribulations are transportation for where you’re going,” Jackson said. ”Game 1 made us better. We didn’t panic. We made plays. That’s a heck of a basketball team that’s extremely well-coached and has no quit in them. We don’t have any quit in us, either. The bottom line is we made the plays we needed to make.”

Tim Duncan scored 23 points and Tony Parker added 20 for San Antonio, which had won five straight in the postseason. Manu Ginobili had 12 points and Kawhi Leonard had 11 points and 12 rebounds…

Thompson, who scored 29 points in the first half, finished 8 for 9 on 3-pointers and 13 for 26 overall…

Harrison Barnes had 13 points, Carl Landry added 10 and Andrew Bogut had six points and 11 rebounds.

After scoring 44 points in the opener, Curry’s total was cut in half as he shot 7 for 20 from the field.

– Reported by Raul Dominguez of the Associated Press

Manu Ginobili’s play in the final 50 seconds was almost too much for Gregg Popovich to handle. Then again, the Spurs’ coach is used to his veteran guard’s free-wheeling style.

Ginobili’s 3-pointer from the wing with 1.2 seconds left in double overtime lifted the San Antonio Spurs to a thrilling 129-127 victory Monday night over the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry, who had 44 points in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals.

The game-winning shot came 43.7 seconds after Ginobili took an ill-advised 3 that appeared to cost the Spurs the game.

”I went from wanting to trade him on the spot to wanting to cook breakfast for him tomorrow morning,” Popovich said. ”That’s the truth. When I talk to him and say, ‘Manu,’ he goes, ‘This is what I do.’ That’s what he’s going to tell me. I stopped coaching him a long time ago.”

Ginobili’s 3 capped an improbable comeback for the Spurs, who trailed by 16 points with 4 minutes left in regulation before going on an 18-2 run to close the fourth quarter and force overtime…

Tony Parker scored 28 points to lead San Antonio while Danny Green added 22 points, Leonard had 18 and Ginobili 16.

Tim Duncan finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes. Duncan, who is battling a stomach bug, left the game with 3 minutes left in regulation and only played the final seconds of each overtime.

”He’s had the flu,” Popovich said. ”He’s been sick and he gave it a shot. It became pretty apparent there that he wasn’t going to tell me the truth anymore, so I had to pull the plug myself.”

Curry had 11 assists and was 18 for 35 from the field and 6 for 14 on 3-pointers for Golden State, which has lost 30 straight in San Antonio dating back to Feb. 14, 1997.

Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes each added 19 points, Jarrett Jack had 15 and Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds.

– Reported by Raul Dominguez of the Associated Press

His skinny frame is dwarfed by the giants of the NBA. His baby face only looks younger because of its perpetual smile. And people who know him swear you’ll never meet a nicer guy.

But Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has become a breakout star and led his team into the second round of the playoffs thanks to another quality: ruthlessness.

The Denver Nuggets most recently found that out the hard way as Curry dominated their first-round playoff series, and the playoff-tested San Antonio Spurs are up next starting Monday night. But it’s not a new phenomenon for those who have watched Curry sneak up on others for years.

“It’s funny to see people finally catch on,” said his brother Seth, a collegiate star at Duke. “I think it’s because he doesn’t pass the eye test. Even now people are shocked that someone who looks like him is doing what he’s doing. He’s dominated pretty much every level he’s played.”

The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has often been dismissed as too scrawny or lacking for athleticism. Despite an NBA pedigree (father Dell played 16 seasons) and prolific high school career, tiny Davidson College was the only school to woo him.

– Reported by Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group

Besides the volume and accuracy of Curry’s 3-point shooting, the most impressive facet is his versatility. He took at least 100 attempts in four different play types as charted by Synergy Sports — spot ups (53.4 percent), transition (52.3 percent), pick and rolls as the ballhandler (44.3 percent) and coming off screens (37.7).

The latter is his lowest percentage on any play type he had more than 20 attempts, and he was still above league average. As such, wanting to run Curry off the 3-point line and actually doing it are often two very different things.

No wonder former Spurs forward Bruce Bowen — never one to back down from a challenge — all but threw up his hands when recently asked how he’d defend Curry.

“I wouldn’t try to force him to do anything,” he said. “I would play him straight up because he is too good. He is such a smart player and has so much skill, all he does is see what you’re trying to do to him and counter.”

– Reported by Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News (Blog)

According to multiple team sources, the Warriors initiated extension talks with guard Jarrett Jack back in January. But Jack shut down such talks before they got rolling, looking to focus on the season and wanting to experience free agency.

Jack, who drew interest from multiple teams during the trade deadline, is in the last year of his contract paying him $5 million this season. He is expected to be a fairly well sought after this offseason, especially with the postseason he’s having, as multiple teams are looking for a point guard. Multiple teams are looking for point guards — including Utah, Charlotte, Toronto and possibly Milwaukee (since Brandon Jennings is a restricted free agent). Plus, Jack has proven to be a difference-maker off the bench, which has intrigued multiple teams that already have a point guard, such as the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

– Reported by Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times (Blog)

The guard from Pennsylvania sees some of his game in the center from Australia.

Actually, Nuggets coach George Karl didn’t sound that fond of Warriors center Andrew Bogut, explaining, “Bogut does a little of the little things, he sets the illegal screens, pushes guys around, tries to taunt and flaunt — a little bit like how I used to play, though I wasn’t 7-1.”

Karl was a pesky guard for the Spurs back in the 1970s. He was asked before Sunday’s game about Bogut, who had taunted Nuggets center JaVale McGee in Game 3 to punch him in the face.

“I was once sent into the game to instigate a guy to punch me in the face,” Karl said. “Brian Taylor, he punched me, I punched him, and it was a 16-minute fight. Well, Brian Taylor hit me first, I hit him from behind and then it was going on all over the place. I was sent into the game to hold, grab and wrestle — things that Bogut does really well.”

– Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is questionable for Friday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

Curry sprained his left ankle during Game 2 of their series on Tuesday and did not practice Thursday.

The injury is not related to his surgically-repaired right ankle.

If he does not play?

“It would kill me,” Curry told reporter Thursday.

– Reported by the Sports Xchange

The Golden State Warriors hardly missed much of anything Tuesday night.

Not their shots.

Not their injured All-Star.

Stephen Curry had 30 points and 13 assists and the scrappy Warriors handed the Denver Nuggets their first loss at home in more than three months, a 131-117 stunner that evened their playoff series at a game each.

Rallying around injured David Lee, who cheered on the bench in street clothes, the Warriors got 26 points from surprise starter Jarrett Jack, a career-high 24 from rookie Harrison Barnes in his debut at power forward and 21 from Klay Thompson.

The sixth-seeded Warriors, who became the second road team to win in the postseason following Chicago’s victory at Brooklyn on Monday, wrested homecourt advantage from the NBA’s best home team in the series that shifts to Oakland for Game 3 on Friday night.

”They were knocking down shots,” Denver’s Andre Iguodala said in an understatement.

Better than they ever had before in a playoff game, a franchise playoff-record 64.6 percent from the field (51 of 79)…

Ty Lawson and Corey Brewer each scored 19 points for Denver and Iguodala and Miller both had 18, but the Nuggets were playing catch-up from the middle of the second quarter and couldn’t keep up with so many of the Warriors’ shots falling, negating Denver’s league-best transition game…

– Reported by Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press

Golden State Warriors forward David Lee will miss the remainder of the 2013 NBA Playoffs due to a complete tear of his right hip flexor, the team announced today following an MRI that was conducted this morning.

Lee, 29, registered 10 points and 14 rebounds in 29 minutes during last night’s Game 1 loss against the Denver Nuggets before leaving the contest with 11:33 remaining in the fourth quarter due to the injury.

In 79 games during the regular season, Lee averaged 18.5 points (15th in NBA), 11.2 rebounds (T-4th), 3.5 assists and 36.8 minutes per contest, earning a spot on the Western Conference All-Star Team.  The 6’9” forward led the league with 56 point/rebound double-doubles, becoming the first Warriors player to lead the NBA in the category since Wilt Chamberlain in 1963-64.

This really damages the Warriors’ playoff hopes. They’re currently in the first round of the postseason, matched up against the Denver Nuggets. Although Denver has some key injuries as well, the Warriors frontcourt is pretty empty without Lee’s services.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has established a new NBA single-season three-point record with 272 three-pointers made, surpassing the previous record of 269 set by Ray Allen for the Seattle SuperSonics in 2005-06.  Curry established the new mark in tonight’s regular-season finale at Portland, connecting on 4-of-11 attempts in a 99-88 Warriors victory over the Trail Blazers. He entered the contest needing one three-pointer to tie, and two to surpass, the previous record. Curry broke Allen’s record despite attempting 53 less three-pointers than Allen did in 2005-06.

Curry, 25, not only led the NBA in three-pointers made in 2012-13, but also finished third in three-point field goal percentage by connecting on 272-of-600 (.453) attempts from long range. The 6-3 guard is the first player in NBA history to hit 250 three-pointers and dish out 500 assists in a single season and is the second player in league history to hit 200-or-more threes in a season on 45 percent-or-better, joining Glen Rice, who did so in 1995-96.

Overall, Curry averaged career highs of 22.9 points (7th in NBA) and 6.9 assists (T-15th) to go with 4.0 rebounds, 1.62 steals and 38.2 minutes (7th) in 78 games during the regular season.

Earlier this season, Curry announced that for every three-pointer made he would donate three life-saving bed nets to the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, which distributes insecticide-treated mosquito nets to protect families across Africa from malaria.  A committed champion of Nothing But Nets since his time at Davidson, Curry’s record-setting season translates to 816 bed nets that will help hundreds families sleep safe from infection.

The Golden State Warriors have signed guard Scott Machado (muh-CHAH-doe) for the remainder of the season, the team announced today.  Machado is currently on assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, who begin their second round D-League playoff series today against the Austin Toros in Texas.

Machado, 22, was originally signed to a 10-day contract as a GATORADE Call-UP from the Santa Cruz Warriors on April 7.  The following day (on April 8) he was assigned to Santa Cruz where he averaged 4.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per contest as Santa Cruz swept its first round playoff series against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Overall this season, Machado appeared in 28 D-League regular-season games combined with Santa Cruz and Rio Grande Valley, averaging 8.9 points 2.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest.

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut sprained his surgically repaired left ankle against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.

Warriors coach Mark Jackson said Bogut was not expected to make the trip to Los Angeles for Friday night’s game against the Lakers.

Bogut exited Golden State’s 116-97 loss with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter. He went to the locker room for observation and did not return to the bench.

– Reported by the Associated Press

Russell Westbrook blocked Stephen Curry’s layup, Kevin Durant corralled the ball and dribbled down court. He threw down a soaring dunk at full extension, then pretended to slice his throat and crossed his hands in prayer.

”Kill ‘em and pray for ‘em after the game,” Durant said of his new celebration.

Durant finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help the Oklahoma City Thunder regain the Western Conference’s best record with a 116-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

”It’s nothing against the team I’m playing against,” Durant said of his animated moves, adding that somebody encouraged him to do it following a highlight dunk. ”Come out with a mindset and be friends after the game.”

With Durant leading the way, that’s just what the Thunder did.

Kevin Martin scored 23 points off the bench and Russell Westbrook added 18 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who moved a half-game ahead of idle San Antonio for the top seed. The Spurs split the season series with Oklahoma City, but the Thunder (58-21) own the tiebreaker because of its better conference record…

Curry scored 22 points and reserve Jarrett Jack had 19 points on a night the Warriors lost center Andrew Bogut to another injury. The 7-footer left in the first quarter with a sprained left ankle…

Ibaka finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Durant was 10 for 16 from the floor, helping the Thunder outshoot the Warriors 50.6 to 44 percent.

– Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Chants of ”Playoffs! Playoffs! Playoffs!” rang out from fans. Confetti flew around the lower bowl of the arena. Finally, the public address announcer told the crowd what they had longed to hear: ”The Golden State Warriors are heading to the 2013 NBA playoffs!”

Believe it.

Klay Thompson scored 25 of his 30 points in the first half, Stephen Curry added 24 points and 10 assists and the Warriors clinched their first playoff berth since 2007 by routing the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-89 on Tuesday night.

”We celebrated. Rightfully so,” teary-eyed and red-faced Warriors coach Mark Jackson said after emerging from the locker room. ”People questioned us, and they should have. People doubted us, and they should have. They underestimated the heart, the desire, the work ethic, the determination, the willingness to put in the time.”

At long last, Bay Area basketball fans have reason to cheer again.

David Lee finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds to propel the Warriors to just their second postseason appearance in 19 years. Co-owner Joe Lacob shared hugs and handshakes with fans from his courtside seat, raising his right hand to the 30th straight sellout crowd announced at 19,596.

– Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

The Golden State Warriors have assigned guard Scott Machado to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Machado was signed by the Warriors as a “Call-Up” from Santa Cruz on April 7.  He appeared in 10 games for the Warriors’ D-League affiliate prior to his call-up, averaging 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 15.0 minutes.  In 28 D-League games combined this year with Santa Cruz and Rio Grande Valley, Machado has averaged 8.9 points 2.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest.

The Santa Cruz Warriors earned the #3 seed in the NBA D-League Playoffs and begin their first round series on the road against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Wednesday, April 10.