When the Warriors were running the NBA, staging annual races to the NBA Finals, whatever Kerr would see on the court in real time greatly influenced his substitution decisions. He strayed from that guidance pattern Tuesday night, and it backfired.

Kerr went back to those instincts Thursday night in Philadelphia and almost was rewarded with an unlikely victory.

The Warriors wiped out a 24-point third-quarter deficit, with the surge giving them a 98-94 lead on Pat Spencer’s 3-pointer with 1:12 remaining before the 76ers closed it out for a 99-98 victory that dropped Golden State to 11-12.

Spencer was in the game because Kerr trusted the eyes he didn’t trust Tuesday, when Spencer ignited a late comeback that threatened Oklahoma City but was subbed out for Brandin Podziemski with 3:56 left. The next two possessions went nowhere, with Podziemski missing from deep and committing a turnover.

This time, there was no questionable late-game substitution. Podziemski stayed on the bench, as Spencer played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter and was no less effective than he was two nights earlier.

“Yeah, tonight was a no brainer,” Kerr told reporters at Xfinity Mobile Center. “The other night was a tricky decision but tonight was obvious pat was just incredible out there and controlled the game and he’s just about the right stuff.”

Spencer scored 12 points in the quarter and was plus-13 for his efforts. He led lineups that were without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III or Draymond Green, who left in the second quarter after aggravating a sprained right foot.

To put a finer point on it, Spencer – with generous assistance from De’Anthony Melton in his season debut – pushed the Warriors in position to prevail mostly behind the bench. Gui Santos played more than 11 minutes in the fourth quarter, Buddy Hield played 10 minutes, Quinten Post played eight and Melton played five.

“The effort was phenomenal,” Kerr said. “It felt like we really deserved to win, and I feel terrible for the guys that we couldn’t hang on because the effort, the energy, the commitment. Gui hasn’t played in a couple weeks and he’s playing the whole fourth quarter and is (plus-15), showing what he did last year. And the way Pat got us into our offense and got downhill and into pick-and-roll and distributed the ball . . . I like the way the guys fought.”

Kerr indicated that he hopes for a way that Spencer, operating on a two-way contract that limits him to 50 games, can be elevated to a standard contract. The coach also made it clear that he sees Spencer as “the perfect guy for a backup” at point guard behind Curry.

With Spencer playing exceedingly well in consecutive games, and Melton impressing in his return nearly a year after undergoing surgery to repair a slight ACL tear, the Warriors will be exceptionally deep at guard when Curry returns, which is expected next Friday.

“We’re deep,” Spencer said. “We got a lot of guys that could play and guys that have proven it time after time. So, I think that’s the tough part. I don’t envy Steve’s job at all.”

Make no mistake, a 10-point first quarter laid the foundation for this loss, which exposed – or re-exposed – some of the weaknesses that have rendered Golden State unable to escape mediocrity so far this season.

Ineffective defense at the point of attack. Poor shot selection, mostly in the first half, particularly in the first quarter when they jacked up 15 3s, making two. Too many live-ball turnovers, which Philly exploited for 25 points. Insufficient interior moxie and muscle, resulting in another rebounding deficit, with the 76ers scoring the game-winning bucket on an offensive rebound.

Spencer can help with a few of those ailments, and Melton surely will address some of them. When Curry returns, Spencer and Melton will be among seven Warriors vying for guard minutes in the rotation.

All of which gives Kerr the right to shorten his proverbial leash on a night-to-night basis. 

The coach likely realized that on this night, when he went back to an old habit that served him well. He trusted his in-game eyes.

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