Warriors get back at Thunder, W’brook
OAKLAND, California – The Golden State Warriors played stifling defense for a full game. They went on a jaw-dropping scoring frenzy midway through the third quarter.
Yes, the dominant defending champions are back and ready to build some consistency.
Kevin Durant scored 28 points while avenging an embarrassing home loss to his former Oklahoma City team earlier this month and another on the road in November, leading the Warriors past the Thunder, 112-80, Saturday night.
“We’re champions. We’re 4614 and we’ve got one of the best road records in the league,” Durant said. “We’ve been doing this the last two years. We’ve got to be us.”
Stephen Curry added 21 points with five 3-pointers, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals as Golden State produced the kind of defensive performance coach Steve Kerr has been seeking.
In other results, Philadelphia trounced Orlando, 116-105; Miami routed Memphis, 115-89; Boston downed New York, 121-112; Minnesota clobbered Chicago, 122-104; Portland held off Phoenix, 106-104; Utah subdued Dallas, 97-90; and the Los Angeles Lakers repulsed the Sacramento Kings, 113-108.
Back in Oakland, Russell Westbrook had 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, which failed to reach 100 points for the first time in the last five games. The Thunder had scored at least 100 in 14 of their last 16, but this matched their season-low total.
Durant’s layup off a perfect pass by Curry with 3:06 left in the third put the Warriors up 75-66.