The Golden State Warriors bounced back from their loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, their Western Conference rival, in a game that got real close at the end. With the game finishing 127-116, the Warriors saved some blushes, as they survived what could have been an embarrassingly blown 28-point lead.
Stephen Curry was sensational tonight putting up 36 points (13-23 FG), seven assists, and five rebounds in the win for the Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga came off the bench to drop 20 points (8-11 FG), five rebounds, and one block in another impressive outing. De’Anthony Melton put on a stellar showing as well, with 19 points (5-11 FG), 10 rebounds, and three steals to help contribute at a high level.
As for the Thunder, they lost Chet Holmgren early on but had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to rely on, who dropped 24 points (6-17 FG), five rebounds, and four assists. Jalen Williams continued to prove himself as a star-level player, putting up 20 points (9-14 FG), four assists, and four blocks. Lu Dort had a solid game offensively, in a surprise, with 16 points (6-11 FG), six rebounds and three assists.
Here are three reasons why the Warriors walked away with the all-important win against their conference rivals.
Chet Holmgren’s Injury Woes
The absence of Chet Holmgren for most of the game cannot be understated in importance. Holmgren got injured early in the game and was ruled out from returning to the court. With their star center out of the game, the team had to revert to a small-ball set up to compete with the Warriors.
The Warriors enjoyed a degree of comfort getting to the basket without the elite rim protection of Holmgren. And with the size advantage taken away from the Thunder, the Warriors were able to get the job done, primarily because they have far more experience playing with a small-ball lineup.
Holmgren is currently averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game, with a defensive rating of 96.7. That is an incredible rating, that puts him in the top 10 for defensive ratings among centers in the NBA. The Thunder will be hoping he isn’t out for too long.
Warriors Continue Incredible Three-Point Shooting
A big reason for the Golden State Warriors’ win tonight was their three-point shooting. The Warriors shot 21-43 from beyond the arc as a team, bringing them a staggering percentage of 48.8% from the three-point line. This was a signature Warriors performance, as Steve Kerr’s men did what they do best.
Stephen Curry was expectedly brilliant from the three-point line, going 7-13 from deep. De’Anthony Melton was also solid, going 5-8 from beyond the arc. Draymond Green continued his improved three-point shooting this season, going 2-3 from the three-point line.
The Warriors are sixth in three-point shooting in the NBA, and could continue to climb up the ranks if they deliver three-point shooting performances such as the one they did tonight.
Warriors’ Experience Allows Them To Hold On
Tonight’s game was definitely a battle of youth vs. experience, as the young OKC roster hosted the legendary Warriors. The Warriors had a brilliant game and were up by 28 in the third quarter. However, the Thunder began to cause some concerns on the Warriors’ bench, as they cut the lead down to just six points late in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors, however, didn’t panic too much and were able to hold on and survive the late comeback attempt to win the game. Despite Draymond Green’s late-game foul antics, his leadership on the defensive end helped the Warriors regain control. Simultaneously, Stephen Curry made some big shots down the stretch to keep the Thunder at bay and secure the big win for them.
This game will be used as an example by Mike Daigneault and his coaching staff to teach his young roster how to keep their nerve in late-game situations. This win puts the Warriors in a strong position, as they could be top of the West when the night is over, if the Suns lose to the Sacramento Kings, with all teams ending the night, hypothetically, with a record of 8-2.
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