This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
#3 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 108 @ #1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 102
WEST Finals – Game 1 – THUNDER lead series, 1-0
The game started out like one of the many cakewalk victories the Warriors had over the last two seasons. Klay Thompson scored 19 points in the first half and Stephen Curry made another one of his crazy buzzerbeaters to end the second quarter. The Warriors led by 13 and it seemed like they were on their way to another easy win. Especially since Russell Westbrook was 1 for 8 in the first half.
The Thunder’s offense wasn’t much better. Curry made two more ridiculous three-pointers but OKC hung in there and Westbrook finally got going. Thunder also stuck with their bigs, disrupting everything inside and making the Warriors shoot wilder shots than they’re accustomed to. Russ scored 19 points in the third quarter and OKC was only down three by that point.
Warriors only scored two field goals in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter. OKC wasn’t much better but they got some big baskets from their bench. The Thunder also got to clean the glass (they would end up being +8). The road team would lead by eight with four minutes and change.
Still, Golden State is known for their outbursts and they ran off seven straight points to cut the deficit to one. In between Steven Adams free throws (who made a big impact in this game), the Warriors missed golden (I’m so clever) opportunities as they blew a couple of lay-ups. With the Thunder leading by three before the possession, Durant made a jumper to put them up five. This was after he missed eight straight shots. OKC would hold on for another surprising road win.
If you weren’t taking the Thunder seriously before, it’s time to do that now. They have won three consecutive road games; two against the Spurs and one against the Warriors. Those were the two best teams in the league all season. And the Thunder did it by imposing their will on these squads.
Durant and Westbrook shot poorly (17 for 51, which would be .333). But they came through when the team needed them. The Thunder would be nowhere without Westbrook’s 19 points in the third. They would be nowhere without timely shots from Durant. They would be nowhere without Adams and Kanter’s size on both ends inside. And Dion Waiters wasn’t half-bad again.
Curry didn’t get the ball much in the fourth quarter. And they rushed a lot of shots in the second half because of the disruptive Thunder D. When was the last time the Warriors scored 14 points in the fourth quarter? If the Dubs weren’t shooting like jorts was going out of style and was patient on the offense, we would probably be telling another story.
But right now, the story is that Oklahoma City drew first blood. And this was AFTER Westbrook took a beating and they were down 14 points.
BEHIND THE LINES
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 27 pts, 6 rebs, 12 assts, 7 stls.
Steven Adams (OKC): 16 pts, 12 rebs.
Kevin Durant (OKC): 26 pts, 10 rebs, 3 stls.
Serge Ibaka (OKC): 11 pts, 11 rebs.
Klay Thompson (GS): 25 pts, 9 rebs.
Stephen Curry (GS): 26 pts, 10 rebs, 7 assts, 3 stls.
Draymond Green (GS): 23 pts.
WATCH THIS PLAY
This Durant jumper put the Thunder up five. That essentially put the game away. Besides, Mommy’s got some things for Daddy to do.
(VIDEO CREDIT: soun okhung.)
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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