Golden State Warriors defeat San Antonio Spurs to tie play-off series

The Golden State Warriors tied their seven-game Western Conference semi-final series with the San Antonio Spurs at 2-2 following a thrilling overtime win at the Oracle Arena.

The Warriors kept their play-off dream alive by completing a 97-87 success, outscoring their opponents 13-3 in the extra period to delight the home crowd in Oakland.

Harrison Barnes poured in 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Jarrett Jack and Stephen Curry scored 24 and 22 respectively and Andrew Bogut weighed in with 18 rebounds.

The Warriors made a hot start and raced out into a five-point lead as star man Curry, who played despite picking up an ankle injury on Friday, knocked down two early three-pointers.
But the baskets quickly dried up allowing the Spurs to turn the tables, with Manu Ginobili - the Spurs top-scorer with 21 points - coming off the bench to score 11 points in the first quarter alone.

With Ginobili withdrawn from the action it was fellow veteran Tim Duncan who stepped up in the second quarter, upping his points tally as well as dominating the boards.

San Antonio led 45-37 at the half but a hot streak of scoring from Curry followed by some superb play from Barnes turned things around completely as the hosts took a four-point lead in the middle of the third quarter.

The Spurs had regained a narrow two-point advantage by the end of the quarter and their momentum continued as they stretched that lead out at the beginning of the fourth.

After another inspired spell of scoring from Ginobili, the Warriors eventually found some impetus of their own and a pull-up jumper from Jarrett Jack tied the scores with 58 seconds remaining.

It remained level at the end of regulation and in the extra period the Warriors took control early before closing out a crucial victory.