The OKC Thunder and Golden State Warriors met in a battle of the top seeds in the West, with the Thunder snatching a narrow 105-101 win over the Warriors at the Chase Center. This win improves OKC’s record to 14-4 while the Warriors’ loss drops them to a 12-6 record, creating a two-game gap between the two franchises for the No. 1 seed.
In Stephen Curry’s absence, the Warriors were led by Jonathan Kuminga, who put up 19 points (8-21 FG). Buddy Hield had 17 points (5-8 3P) while Brandin Podziemski had 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists (4-10 FG). Three other players also cracked double-digits, with Andrew Wiggins (16 PTS), Draymond Green (10 PTS, 13 REB), and Kyle Anderson (10 PTS) also making necessary contributions despite falling short.
The Thunder were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s 35 points (13-28 FG) and nine rebounds, points while Isaiah Joe put up 17 points (6-12 FG). Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 points (5-8 FG), 14 rebounds, and two blocks in the win. Jalen Williams got hurt after playing 16 minutes but had 13 points (3-6 FG), six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block in his limited minutes.
Let’s take a look at some major takeaways from this top-of-the-table clash.
The Thunder Defense Stifled The Warriors
The main factor behind OKC pulling out this nervy win was their defense. The Warriors shot 35-98 (35.7 FG%) from the field and 16-50 (32.0 3P%) from three on the night, one of their worst offensive performances of the season. The fact that the game still went down to the final possessions shows how competitive they were against OKC, especially with both teams hanging their hat on defense.
The fourth quarter was particularly rough for the Warriors as they shot 7-27 (25.9 FG%) from the field. Even without Jalen Williams, OKC was extremely aggressive on the perimeter which hurt the Warriors’ generally free-scoring nature. Without Stephen Curry on the court, there were no double-teams on the court which ensured that one OKC defender was on his man at all times, which made shot making a huge challenge.
The Thunder weren’t a polished offensive team tonight either, but they did enough to outpace the Warriors despite being out-rebounded 49-57 during the game. They shot 39-85 (45.9 FG%) from the field and 11-37 (29.7 3P%) from three, not putting up any star-like numbers but proving to the world that they have the defensive acumen to stop one of the most powerful offenses in the NBA right now.
The Warriors Can Be Competitive Without Stephen Curry
This was the fourth game this season the Warriors played without Stephen Curry in the lineup, with the first three games resulting in wins for the Warriors.
Despite the loss tonight, the Warriors have proven they can be extremely competitive even when Curry is sidelined. The team’s motion offense creates good looks for everyone on the roster, with the Warriors leading the league in assists without a traditional playmaking point guard on the roster.
This is also reflected in Curry’s overall decline in production primarily because the Warriors are sharing the offensive load far more than they could the last few seasons. He’s averaging 22.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists this season while playing under 30 minutes per game, an unprecedented discovery considering people expected Curry to up his production now that Klay Thompson has left the franchise.
The Warriors were competitive with a 12-man rotation which led to only two players playing over 30 minutes on the night, which is unlike most contending teams in the NBA. They’re proving that their 12-6 record this season isn’t a fluke but the result of careful roster construction and planning to ensure Steph Curry doesn’t have to carry a heavy load early into the season while the franchise can be among the best teams in the West.
Jalen Williams’ Injury Could Be Problematic
The eye injury occurred during a Jonathan Kuminga poster where he might have grazed Williams’ eye. He played just 16 minutes in the contest and left with 13 points (3-6 FG), six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block, showing how impactful he can be for OKC.
KUMINGA TOOK FLIGHT ✈️ pic.twitter.com/J6d0Gts1Hh
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 28, 2024
Williams is averaging 22.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this season and quite literally plays all five positions for the Thunder when needed. He played multiple games at center before Isaiah Hartenstein returned from injury, while already being a regular fixture in the forward line and occasionally in the backcourt. His versatility has been one of the biggest reasons why the Thunder have been steamrolling their opponents.
The Thunder have the talent to stay competitive without Williams, but losing him to an injury might be more significant than even Chet Holmgren’s injury given Williams can do everything the team might need him for on the court. He guards bigs, forwards, and guards effortlessly, a tool that no team can have enough of.
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