Tag: Oklahoma City Thunder

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) passes the ball past Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (left) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Fri Nov 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In a second wild finish in as many nights, the Golden State Warriors won their fifth road game in a row 141-139 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last Wednesday it was Klay Thompson who hit the winning shot and tonight it was Stephen Curry making a driving layup who closed this game out. Both of them hit those shots with next to nothing on the game clock.

After winning a thriller Wednesday night beating the Sacramento Kings 102-101 the Golden State Warriors (5-1) took on the Thunder (3-3) Friday night in another road game. Thompson was the hero in the game against the Kings hitting the winning shot with 0.2 seconds left on the clock and this starting roster will be looking for a fast start in this road game. They’re road record continues to be unblemished having won every away game so far this season, five in total.

Game recap: The Warriors took the lead after the opening quarter 38-33 but the Thunder came roaring back winning the second quarter 34-31. Despite winning the quarter, the Thunder trailed Golden State 69-67 as this game went into halftime. OKC continued to hang around as this game went on playing with tenacity and drive. Both teams were having incredible offensive games.

This was a crazy game from the very beginning. The Thunder brought their A-game knowing full well that they would have to if they wanted to get past Golden State. Despite the Warriors shooting at 55% going into the fourth quarter the Thunder did them one better shooting at close to 62%. The Warriors were shooting from downtown at 47% but again the Thunder were better shooting 53%. OKC won the third quarter 39-37 and after three this game was all tied up at 106.

Both teams were playing a great game and with five minutes left in the fourth quarter the Warriors trailed 129-127. Golden State continued to hang around in the quarter staying close. The Warriors excel at closing out games in the final minutes of games but the Thunder were playing some amazing offense.

This game was going down to the wire as the Thunder continued to press Golden State and the game was a long way from being done. Could there be another last second win for Golden State in this game?

With under three minutes left in the game again it was Thompson to the rescue hitting a three and tying up the game at 133. This game was far from decided with 2:09 on the clock and the Thunder holding a slim 134-133 lead.

Every possession for the rest of the game was critical for both teams with 1:41 left. Head Coach Steve Kerr challenged a call in the closing minutes which failed. Not long after, there was another review which went the Warriors way.

This game had entered the realm of officially crazy. There was less than a minute left in the game and OKC had a 136-135 lead. Thompson was fouled and going to the line he hit both free throws giving Golden State the lead 137-136 in another nail-biter.

Another challenge from Golden State failed with 32.5 ticks on the clock. This game had come down to the final 21 seconds and it was still anybody’s game with the shot clock turned off. There were 16 seconds left in regulation and this game was tied at 139. Golden State had possession and 16 seconds is more than enough time for Golden State to nail this game down.

With Draymond Green touching the rim on a Curry shot, the winning shot was nullified or was it? While Green did touch the rim, the Thunder’s Josh Giddey grabbed the net and the shot was called good for a 141-139 win as the clock ran out on OKC.

The Warriors had their fifth road win in a row keeping their record unblemished. For a second game in a row the Warriors exhibited a championship finish.

This game went down to the wire with two teams that put forth terrific offensive effort. Curry finished with 28 points and hit the game winning shot. Dario Saric had the high off the bench with 20 points.

The Thunder had the Warriors on the ropes for the entire second half until the final 16 seconds of play but came up short. Every OKC starter finished with double digits, and Loguentz Dort had the high for the entire game with 29 points.

Golden State continues on this road trip looking for their sixth road win of the season traveling to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 PM.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, top left, reaches for the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney (5) and guard Moses Moody, bottom, during the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Apr 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (42-38) played their final home game of the regular season Tuesday night at the Chase Center. Their opponent were the Oklahoma City Thunder (38-42).

OKC beat the Warriors in Oklahoma City the last time the teams played. The young Thunder players love to drive to the rim and get opportunities to make three-point plays.

The Warriors did not have Klay Thompson available Tuesday night. Thompson was a late scratch due to tightness in his lower back. Steve Kerr had Jonathan Kuminga and Anthony Lamb in the starting lineup and that made the difference for the missing Thompson in the Warriors 136-125 win.

The game turned out to be a high-scoring affair. The Thunder shot a blistering 59.6% from the floor in the first half. The Thunder won the first quarter 39-36. The Thunder scored 40 points in the second period. The Warriors scored 33 in the period but found themselves down 79-69 at the end of two periods of play.

Curry led the Warriors with 24. No other Warrior was in double figures. The Thunder had four players in double figures. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21. Jalen Williams had 14, Isaiah Joe 14, and Lu Dort added 11. 

The Warriors have had several comebacks from double-digit deficits this season. The Warriors would need better defense if they hoped to win. The Warriors needed Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, Draymond Green, and Moses Moody to get going on offense. All those players came through for golden state.

The Warriors won the third quarter 33-27 to cut the deficit to four, 106-102 at the end of the third period. Stephen Curry started the fourth quarter on the bench. Poole met the challenge by making a three to tie the game 108-108. Poole made another bucket to make 110-108.

The Thunder made a three to regain the lead 111-110. Poole made a three and a two-point basket to give the Warriors the advantage 115-113. The Thunder tied the game at 115-115. Curry entered the game and made a three. The Warriors led 118-115. The Thunder didn’t know it then, but they were toast.

The Warriors defense stiffened as they held the Thunder to 19 points in the fourth quarter. The Warriors scored 33. Green, Gary Payton II, and Kevon Looney played well on defense. Curry and Poole led the comeback to give the Warriors the win.

Game Notes: With the win, the Warriors are 42-38. The Warriors are 33-8 at the Chase Center this year. The Warriors are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference. They will drop to sixth as the winner of the Clipper-Laker game will take the fifth spot. The Thunder lost their third in a row and fourth in the last five. The Thunder are now 38-42.

In the second half, the Warrior defense held the Thunder to 39% from the floor. The Warriors won the second half 67-46. 

The Warriors had five players in double figures. Curry paced the offense with 34 points, five rebounds, and six assists, and Curry made six threes. Poole had 30 points, two rebounds, and four assists, and Poole made five threes. Green had quite a night.

Green had 17 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, blocked two shots, and made two steals. DiVincenzo kicked in with 16 points, six boards, and five assists. DiVincezo made four threes. Moody added 13 points. Moody made three threes. Looney recorded 11 boards.

Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder attack with 32 points. Jalen William had 19, Josh Giddey 16, Aaron Wiggins 11, and Isiaah Joe 14.

The Warriors have two games left in the regular season. Both games are on the road. The Warriors meet the Sacramento Kings Friday night in Sacramento for a 7:00 pm PDT tip. 

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots as Golden State Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo, right, defends in the first half at Oklahoma City on Tue Mar 7, 2023 (AP News photo)

Another Road Loss For Warriors – Lose to Thunder 137-128

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Golden State Warriors (34-32) took on the Thunder in Oklahoma City (31-34). The Warriors are still looking to turn things around as they enter another road game searching for a winning formula that has so far eluded them this season. Anthony Lamb did not play in this game with foot soreness and Andrew Wiggins remains out.

The Warriors did not want to fall into an early hole in this game. The Warriors have seen this over and over in the first quarter of these road games. Unfortunately for Golden State it was more of the same and they trailed after the first 12 minutes 40-30 and couldn’t hold on in the end losing to the Thunder 137-128.

The Warriors began to turn things around in the second quarter and when all was said and done had shot ten three’s. They still trailed at the half but it was a manageable 68-64. Stephen Curry had 16 points and Klay Thompson had the high with 17. A real shift in favor of the Warriors could be sensed as the “Splash Brothers” got things rolling in the first half.

Golden State took a slim lead in the third quarter as this game remained very tight mid-way through the quarter 83-82 in favor of OKC. The Thunder were beasts from downtown with 14 shots made and five minutes left in the quarter. The Warriors were getting some great looks but could not connect and with 1:37 left in the quarter were faced with an 11 point deficit 101-92.

After three quarters OKC led 105-99. The Warriors have not won a game when trailing after three quarters. The good news however was that Curry was seven of eight from beyond the arc going into the fourth quarter.

The Warriors needed stops and they needed to make shots. It just didn’t happen and the Thunder rode comfortably across the finish line 137-128. You had a game with Curry scoring 40 points, seven assists and Thompson with 23 and Kuminga with 21?

Golden State hit 20 shots from beyond the arc, shoots at almost 53% and still lost. It all points squarely at the defense. With that said, the Warriors did miss too many open shots and had to many turnovers and fouls. It’s yet another road lose as this scourge continues.

Golden State has one more game left on this short road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30.