Golden State Warriors 116 — OKC Thunder 108
On a night when Steph Curry struggled with his shot, Golden State allowed OKC’s Thunder back in the game after blowing a twenty point lead. But the Warriors showed why they’re defending champions in the game’s final minutes of play. After an Enes Kanter basket tied the game at 104 apiece with 3:33 remaining, the Warriors made all the plays you’d expect a team of championship character to make on their home floor in claiming a 116-108 win over the Thunder.
While it was stirring to see the Thunder fight back from twenty down, it was pretty much the same old story for OKC in games against elite competition in the final two minutes of play. After getting the basket from Kanter, who was very effective in the second half, OKC went three straight possessions where the ball never went inside to Kanter even though Bogut was sitting and the Warriors had gone small. Why pay a guy $17 million if you’re not going to use him when he’s doing exactly what you’re paying him to do and the matchup is perfect for him to keep doing it?
Curry hit a layup. Klay Thompson hit a long two at the 1:04 mark. Then Curry pretty much sealed it with another jumper with thirty-three seconds left in the game.
It was night when Steph Curry was missing shots going 10-26 from the field and 1-9 from beyond the arc, but in the end it didn’t matter because Golden State found a way to dig deep and win the game.
Curry finished with 26, Harrison Barnes 19, and Klay Thompson 18. Even though Curry didn’t have his A game, he made the plays, his team won, and consequently he’s my No. 1 Star of the Game.
Golden State improves to 46-4 which ties the ’66-’67 Philadelphia Sixers for the best ever record after 50 games. Add to the fact, it was the Warriors’ 41st straight home victory.
OKC showed glimpses here and there for the most part, but played the role of an eight point Vegas road underdog to perfection as they put themselves in a position to win the game then withered with three possessions littered with bad shot selections. But it is what OKC is and apparently what they’ll always be. For three straight possessions with OKC playing big and Golden State playing small, not once did the Thunder make the Warriors pay for having Draymond Green playing center with Kanter and Ibaka both on the floor.
Durant had a 40 point, 14 rebound game and was scintillating at times. Westbrook went for 27 points and 12 assists. Serge Ibaka, ostensibly OKC’s third option had 7 points and 3 rebounds. Circle that.
But on a brighter note both Steven Adams and Enes Kanter played very well under the pressure of the big game setting. Kanter had 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Adams was efficient scoring 12 points and garnering 8 boards.
Other than Kanter though, OKC’s bench play was abysmal. OKC’s bench was outscored 42-17 by the Warriors’ bench and a primary reason OKC lost the game. Dion Waiters, Kyle Singler, Anthony Morrow, and Cam Payne combined for two made baskets on the night. Circle that with the Ibaka circle and it’s actually fairly incredible Oklahoma City had a chance to steal this game on the road.
OKC drops to 38-14 and is still exactly what we thought they would be in mid – October, namely the third or fourth best team in the NBA with two superstars named Durant and Westbrook who are fun to watch, but still not ready to win an NBA championship as the Thunder are presently constructed.
Mike Jackson