Westbrook, OKC KO KD, Golden State
OKLAHOMA CITY — Warriors forward Kevin Durant wants his fans and critics to believe that there is nothing special about his games against his former team. Sixteen months after he left the Thunder for Golden State, the eight-time All-Star is trying to silence chatter about his past.
The problem? One of the NBA’s more emotional leaders, Durant has trouble not feeding the story line he is trying to erase — especially when sharing a court with his old running mate, Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook. In the Warriors’ 108-91 loss Wednesday night to Oklahoma City at Chesapeake Energy Arena, Durant gave NBA fans what they desired most: Durant and Westbrook, nose to nose, jawing as a capacity crowd roared around them.
“That stuff is not real,” Durant said. “Please don’t believe it. All the fans, they’re lying to
y’all. It’s about basketball. They played a great game and we didn’t.”
Unlike last season, when it won all four meetings with the Thunder by an average of nearly 20 points, Golden State was the team that got bullied Wednesday. In falling to Oklahoma City for the first time since they signed Durant in July 2016, the Warriors were held to their lowest point total of the season. Durant needed 17 shots to score 21 points and committed four turnovers.
Meanwhile, Westbrook looked the part of the reigning MVP, pouring in 34 points on 13-for-27 shooting with 10 rebounds, nine assists and four steals. Carmelo Anthony (22 points), Paul George (20 points, 11 rebounds) and Steven Adams (14 points, 12 rebounds) were worthy complements on a night Golden State was left wrestling with its second loss in 11 games.
It piled up 22 turnovers, was outrebounded 50-39, committed 20 fouls and did not seriously threaten after trailing 65-48 at halftime. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr pulled his starters with about eight minutes remaining.
“It was just that kind of night,” Kerr said. “We didn’t have any focus or concentration. Millennials couldn’t lock in tonight, and their coach couldn’t do much, either, so it was a long night for us.”
Much has changed since Durant informed Westbrook, his sidekick of eight years, in a text message of his decision to sign with the Warriors. Durant is an NBA champion, Westbrook is an MVP and Oklahoma City is home to two new AllStars (George and Anthony).
What remains is the fractured bond between Durant and a city that once considered him an adopted son. Though not as hostile as it was during Durant’s first return trip in February, a crowd of 18,203 booed Durant whenever he touched the ball.
“Honestly,” Kerr said, “it seemed pretty civil compared to last year.”
Durant, back from a sprained ankle that sidelined him for Sunday’s win at Brooklyn, seemed emboldened by the negativity. Forty-three seconds into the game, Durant hit a three-pointer. Midway through the first quarter, when he was matched against Westbrook at the top of the arc, a gasp emanated from the fans.
The issue for Durant was that he lacked his usual precision. At one point in the first period, he passed the ball directly to Thunder guard Andre Roberson.
Westbrook, who has endured some growing pains alongside George and Anthony, delighted the fans with a steady stream of highlights. It became routine for him to step to the foul line to a chorus of “M-V-P! MV-P!” Midway through the second quarter, Westbrook drove through the key for a vicious dunk.
Early in the third, Westbrook nabbed a Durant pass before jogging down court for a two-handed dunk. Moments later, he brought the crowd to its feet when he turned a steal into a layup, then hit the ensuing free throw to put the Thunder up 72-52.
Midway through that quarter, after Westbrook knocked the ball out of Durant’s hands, the two met in front of the Warriors’ basket, spewing expletives as they butted heads. As the two were each assessed a technical foul, Durant grinned, clapped his hands and stared down Westbrook.
Asked later about the scuffle, Durant tried to steer the interview away from a story line he has heard for nearly a year and a half.
“The story’s about the game,” Durant said. “We lost. They kicked our ass. They played a great game. You should give them credit for how they played, and we should be better.”