Photo credit: nba.com/warriors

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors won their second game in a row on the road by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-88. They did it without the services of Kevin Durant, who is recovering from a right ankle contusion, which happened last Sunday against the Phoenix Suns. The Warriors are answering questions about their ability to repeat as champions. DeMarcus Cousins had two good games back-to-back for the first time this year. He had handled Houston’s Clint Capela and the Thunder’s Steven Adams. He will be tested Monday night as he will be playing against the Spurs’ LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Warriors–behind the exceptional play of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and DeMarcus Cousins, along with a very dominating defense–held the high-scoring OKC offense to just 88 points, their lowest scoring game of the year. Also, Thompson and Andre Iguodala put the clamps on Russell Westbrook. Westbrook, averaging a triple-double for the season, tallied just 7 points. He was 2-for 16 from the floor and did not make a 3-pointer in 7 attempts. DeMarcus Cousins blanketed Adams. Adams, who has tormented the Warriors in the past, was held to just 9 points and 9 rebounds. The Warriors won easily 110-88.

The Warriors had a great first period. Behind Thompson and Cousins, the team had an early 20-8 advantage. Curry started to put points on the board in the second half of the first period, and the Warriors finished with a 40-27 lead after the first 12 minutes of play. Steph recorded 14 points, and Klay had 10. Draymond Green knocked down two 3s in the first period to help the Warrior offense.

The Warriors outscored the Thunder 24-19 to finish the first half leading 64-46. Curry led the attack with 19 and Klay had 14. Cousins had 9 and held Adams to 7. Paul George was the man for OKC with 12. Dennis Schroder, coming off the bench, tallied 10. Russell Westbrook did not make a field goal in the first half, and the points he put on the board came from the free throw line. Westbrook’s total for the half was three.

The Thunder was not able to get back into the game in the third quarter. They did outscore the Warriors by 2 points 25-23, but the Warriors were in control. The Warrior defense refused to wilt as the Warriors entered the final period of play leading 87-71.

The Warriors started the fourth quarter with Shaun Livingston, Quinn Cook, DeMarcus Cousins, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Shaun made two key buckets, and Cook nailed a 3. Draymond connected on his third three of the night to increase the Warrior lead to 20, 98-78. OKC cut the lead to 15, 101-86, but the Warrior defense held the Thunder to just two points the last three minutes and 54 seconds of the game. The W’s outscored OKC 23-17 to win 110-88.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the Warriors are now 47-21 for the season and lead the Denver Nuggets by one game for the best record in the NBA. The Warriors own a 2-1 advantage over Denver, and they play again in Oakland on April 2nd. The Thunder, currently in fifth place in the Western Conference standings are now 42-28.

The Thunder’s Russell Westbrook, averaging 23.5 points per game, made two buckets in the second half to finish the night with 7 points. Westbrook was charged with his 16th technical foul of the year. The call came after he intentionally ran into Klay Thompson. Thompson had blocked Westbrook’s shot. Westbrook complained to the refs that Klay fouled him, but the refs didn’t change their minds. Westbrook will have to sit out a one-game suspension unless one of the technical is rescinded.

Steph Curry led the Warriors with 33 points and made 5 3s. Klay Thompson had 23 points, 8 boards, and 4 assists. He was 3-for-8 from the 3-point range. DeMarcus Cousins had 12, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Cousins left the game in the fourth quarter with a sore ankle. Draymond Green had 9 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and all his points came on the 3 threes he made. Quinn Cook led the bench with 8, Alfonso McKinnie 7 and Shaun Livingston 6. The rest of the reserves added 10.

The Thunder’s Paul George led his team with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Jerami Grant had 11 and Dennis Schroder 15.

The Warriors’ Quinn Cook was charged with his first career technical foul in the four quarter. The Warriors have the best road record in the NBA 23-11.

Up Next: Game three of the four-game road trip will be played Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs. Game time will be at 5 pm.