Given the importance of this game in the standings of the Western Conference, the Warriors start with a bang. They limit the Thunder to 8/24 on shots, move the ball on offense and the “Splash Brothers” score 23 of their team’s 38 points to take a 20-point lead (38-18)!
The Thunder defense finally slows down Golden State but with the exception of quick baskets from Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City is still floundering on half court. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is muzzled and Mark Daigneault’s men return to the locker room at -15 (63-48).
A winning shot from Klay Thompson keeps the Warriors at +18 but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starts to find the solution against the Golden State defense. He scored 14 points in the quarter and an award-winning shot at the third quarter buzzer from Mike Muscala brought the Thunder back under ten points (94-85). OKC confirms its good run by opening the quarter with three winning shots to return to -2 (100-98)!
Every time the Thunder came back to a possession, the Warriors responded. Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole and Stephen Curry all went from their 3-pointers to break the momentum opposition, while Draymond Green, Kevon Looney and Andrew Wiggins closed the door on defense to allow the Warriors to earn a third victory in a row.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Golden State’s dream first half. With a rigorous defense, especially against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, limited to 1/8 in the first quarter and 3/10 at the break, the Warriors were able to run and find rhythm. Instead of taking quick shots, they systematically overshot. At the end of the first quarter, they had 15 assists out of 15 baskets scored! And they returned to the locker room with 21 assists on 23 shots scored! This altruism allowed them to hit the mark from afar, with a nice 12/25 from 3-pointers in the first half.
– The Thunder come back in the game at their own pace. Like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s leap in the second half, the Thunder erased the Warriors’ 21-point lead without panicking and staying focused on their game plan. OKC, the team that records the more drives in the league this season, continued to attack the circle, and the Warriors began foul stringing to build momentum.
– Three defensive stops to make the difference. With the Thunder down to -2 with four minutes to play and the ball to tie, the Warriors chained three high-flying defensive possessions. It started with Kevon Looney isolated on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed to stay with him to counter him. The transition resulted in a 3-pointer from Jordan Poole. In the process, it was Andrew Wiggins who came to counter Josh Giddey, then Draymond Green who erased a 2-on-1 from Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey single-handedly to allow Curry to score 3-points behind to put the Thunder at -8 and start money time with some leeway.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Stephen CurryKlay Thompson. The “Splash Brothers” started with a bang and never slowed down. Stephen Curry finished with 38 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds while Klay Thompson added 28 points and 7 rebounds. By the way, Curry dethrones Wilt Chamberlain in the ranking of shots scored in the history of the Warriors.
✅ Draymond Green. Like his two friends, he also remembered the good memories of Oklahoma City by releasing a capital performance with 7 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds and a decisive presence in defense.
✅ Jalen Williams-Josh Giddey. Both players continue their super season. Williams finished with 19 points while the Australian blackened the stat sheet with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
✅ ⛔ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder point guard finished with 31 points and 7 assists but was only 10/24 on shots. Except for the third quarter, he was hampered by Golden State’s defense.
⛔ Jordan Poole. The rear scored 15 points including an important 3-point late in the game but he also multiplied the questionable decisions during the return of the Thunder. He was also targeted on defense by the Thunder throughout the game.
THE FOLLOWING
Golden State (26-24) : trip to Minnesota on Wednesday.
Oklahoma City (24-26): trip to Houston on Wednesday.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
#Splash #Brothers #home #Oklahoma #City
