Sizzling Spurs: San Antonio sets Popovich-era in 147-116 blowout over Golden State

Spurs set Popovich-era record against Warriors

SAN ANTONIO — Gregg Popovich has never seen the San Antonio Spurs score like this.

Manu Ginobili scored 23 points and the San Antonio Spurs throttled the Golden State Warriors 147-116 on Friday night, scoring the most points under Popovich since he took over as head coach in 1996.

Richard Jefferson had 21 points as the Spurs tore through the Warriors, whose defense was dreadful even by their NBA-worst standards. The Spurs shot 65 percent from the field and put up the most points against Golden State this season.

Monta Ellis scored 39 points, and Corey Maggette had 30 for the Warriors. Golden State coach Don Nelson didn’t stick around long, getting ejected in the first quarter for arguing a foul.

Nellie didn’t miss much.

The Spurs scored their most points in a game since a 140-91 victory over Dallas in November 1991. It was the most points allowed by Golden State this season.

Nelson was tossed while apparently arguing a foul called against C.J. Watson, earning the Warriors coach two quick technicals. Livid as Nelson was with referee Matt Boland, few at the AT&T Center seemed to noticed Nelson’s ejection — fans were distracted while giving a standing ovation to gold medal bobsledder Justin Olsen.

The Spurs looked practically Olympic-caliber thanks to the lowly Warriors.

After scoring just 84 points in a loss to Orlando on Wednesday, the Spurs already had 77 on the scoreboard by halftime against Golden State.

The eye-popping numbers didn’t stop there.

The Spurs led 121-90 at the end of the third quarter — just 10 points shy of their previous single-game high this season. They also had a season-high 34 assists before the fourth quarter, and finished with 39.

Tim Duncan had 17 points on 8-of-8 shooting, but most importantly played just 14 minutes. The Spurs will need their 33-year-old All-Star as fresh as possible for what’s ahead: their toughest five-game stretch of the season, starting with Atlanta on Sunday.

From there, the Spurs will face Oklahoma City, the Lakers, Cleveland and Boston. The victory was the ninth in the last 11 games for the Spurs, but they’re still fighting to move up from the seventh spot in the playoff picture.

Reggie Williams had 15 points, and Watson had 11 for the Warriors, who played again without Stephen Curry. The rookie missed his second straight game because of a sprained left ankle after being the lone Warriors player to appear in every game this season before this week.

NOTES: The previous record for points scored under Popovich was 136 in a double-overtime win against — guess who — Golden State. … The Spurs never trailed.