Stephen Curry scored 35 points and tied his season high with seven 3-pointers while dishing out six assists, and the Golden State Warriors held off Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are down 118-112 in League games during the season

SAN FRANCISCO — Gary Payton II delivered a defensive gem with a high jump block on 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama as the Golden State guard returned from a foot injury.

The Warriors need every big game – and so far only a handful of others can get past Wembanyama.

“I’m probably the smallest,” Payton said with a chuckle. “It’s just energy and effort.”

Stephen Curry scored 35 points and tied his season high with seven 3-pointers while dishing out six assists, and the Warriors held off Wembanyama and the slumping San Antonio Spurs 118-112 on Friday night in an in-season Tournament game.

Cedi Osman’s 3 with 21 seconds remaining pulled the Spurs within 112-109 before Curry made four free throws the rest of the way and Klay Thompson made a pair.

After the game, Curry hosted Davidson in action at the Warriors’ practice facility after his college program lost earlier in the day at Saint Mary’s.

Dario Saric added 20 points with four 3s and seven rebounds off the bench, while Thompson contributed 15 points and six assists. Golden State won for just the second time in nine games and still hopes to advance past Group C in the tournament during the season.

The Warriors even discussed the point differential during a late timeout — but that conversation didn’t go well, as a 15-point lead with 2 1/2 minutes left turned into a close call.

“We’re trying to move forward,” coach Steve Kerr said.

No. 1 pick Wembanyama had 22 points and eight rebounds but shot 1-for-6 from long range in San Antonio’s 11th straight loss. He had five quick points on a 3-pointer as the Spurs jumped out to an 11-4 lead. The rookie rushed to the basket with a nice spin move, only to have his shot blocked by Payton — who was a foot shorter and had missed the previous three games — midway through the second quarter.

“It was a fun moment, the crowd loved it,” Kerr said. “It was a great play.”

Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 24 points, while Keldon Johnson had 22 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, which finished 0-4 in divisional play.

The Warriors have won their last five games against the Spurs and seven of nine in this series, but have given up 34 points off their 24 turnovers.

Draymond Green played the final game of his five-game suspension for choking Rudy Gobert and is working out with the coaching staff before he returns Tuesday at Sacramento, where he would have earned a spot. into the quarterfinals if the Warriors lose on Friday.

“Hopefully he’ll be ready to play a lot of minutes,” Kerr said.

Golden State unveiled the new Jim Barnett Media Center to honor the team’s former player and broadcaster.

“I’m glad I’m alive to see all of this,” said Barnett.