PHILADELPHIA _ Following a loud starting lineup introduction filled with cheers, boos and pyrotechnics, the arena's public address announcer summed up the Warriors-Sixers game this way.
"One of the most important games of the year!"
Nearly 2{ hours later, the Warriors showed mixed feelings about that sentiment.
Unlike some of their other marquee games on national television this season, the Warriors finished with a 120-117 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
Stephen Curry made a jumper, a pair of free throws and a layup in the final 2:35 en route to 28 points. The Warriors also held the Sixers to a 1-of-6 clip in the final 2:43. Kevin Durant added 34 points.
Like some of those marquee matchups that ended up in losses against Toronto, Houston, Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, the Warriors (43-19) showed some of their vulnerability.
Though DeMarcus Cousins had a season-high 25 points and eight rebounds for his fifth consecutive double-double, he became the main culprit in the Warriors' poor perimeter defense. The Sixers shot 14 of 31 from 3-point range, including prolific nights from Mike Scott (6 of 9) and Jonah Bolden (3 of 4).
Curry nearly got away with a travel as the Warriors held a 119-116 lead before calling timeout with 22.7 seconds left. Officials also overturned a call against the Warriors and charged them with a turnover on another possession with 19.4 seconds left. Green collected his fourth foul shortly afterwards, but Sixers forward Ben Simmons split a pair of foul shots to trim the Warriors' lead to 119-117. Durant then missed second of two foul shots and the ball went out of bounds as the Warriors held a 120-117 lead with 2.3 seconds left.
So even if the Warriors (44-19) collected a signature win over an Eastern Conference contender in the Sixers (40-23), the Warriors made little of it.
"Just another regular season game," Durant said beforehand. "You look to plug in and get better and get ready for the playoffs."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that "you always have your eye on teams looking good in the other conference." But this arguably did not serve as an NBA Finals preview. Sixers center Joel Embiid missed his fifth consecutive game because of tendinitis in his left knee. Klay Thompson (sore right knee) and Kevon Looney (right pelvic soreness) before Alfonzo McKinnie played only seven minutes before sitting with a left hip contusion.
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