Durant relishes return to OKC
OKLAHOMA CITY — Doomsday scenarios amplified on the blogosphere last month. As the injury-depleted Warriors labored through a 3-7 skid, their critics speculated: Is this the year Golden State stops playing deep into June? Can it even survive a first round without Stephen Curry?
Now, with the postseason only a week away, the Warriors are beginning to hush their naysayers. Golden State followed up convincing wins over Sacramento and Phoenix with a 111107 victory Tuesday night over the Thunder.
Already locked into the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed, the Warriors held off a team at risk of missing the playoffs for just the second time in nine years. Tuesday’s loss dropped Oklahoma City from the No. 5 seed to No. 6, only a game ahead of No. 8 seed New Orleans.
“It was a hell of a win,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “I loved how these guys played and competed.”
Golden State’s focus the rest of the regular season is twofold: get healthy and accustomed to playing without Curry, who probably won’t return from his sprained left MCL until the Western Conference semifinals. Though they made strides in the wins over the Kings and Suns, the Curry-less Warriors needed to beat a formidable opponent to start quieting those doomsday rumors.
To escape Chesapeake Energy Arena with a win, Golden State relied on an increasingly familiar blueprint: a workhorse performance from Kevin Durant, timely shooting from Klay Thompson, steady play from role players and, above all else, stingy defense.
Oklahoma City’s Paul George and Carmelo Anthony shot a combined 9-for-35 from the field, including 3-for-18 from three-point range, to force Russell Westbrook to throttle up the aggressiveness. The reigning MVP poured in 17 of his game-high 44 points in the third quarter to dig his team out of a 10-point halftime hole, only for the Thunder to miss too many open shots down the stretch.
Durant (34 points, 10 rebounds) and Thompson (20 points on 9-for-19 shooting) gave the Warriors a chance to win, but their less-heralded teammates helped seal the victory. Center Damian Jones, who has spent much of his second NBA season in the G League, was on the floor in crunch time and chipped in a career-high eight points. Point guard Quinn Cook was poised under pressure, hitting his free throws, a big corner threepointer and a tear-drop floater late.
“Damian showed his potential tonight, his ability to play above the rim,” Thompson said. “Quinn Cook had ice in his veins with those two free throws. You expect that from him because he is such a good shooter.”
The Warriors also overcame a thin backcourt. With Curry, Shaun Livingston (personal reasons), Patrick McCaw (lumbar-spine contusion) and Andre Iguodala (left knee soreness) out, Durant and Draymond Green initiated the offense at times.
By falling a spot in a crowded playoff picture, the Thunder upped their chances of playing Golden State in the first round. Unlike last season, when it won all four meetings with Oklahoma City, by an average of nearly 20 points, Golden State has had trouble with Durant’s former club this season. Had the Thunder won Tuesday, they would have become the first team of the Kerr era to beat the Warriors three times in the same season.
None of the six other firstround possibilities — San Antonio, Utah, Minnesota, New Orleans, Denver and the L.A. Clippers — comes with the Thunder’s emotional baggage. If Tuesday was any indicator, Oklahoma City fans would delight at the opportunity to boo Durant in the postseason.
“It would be a fun series, especially with playing in Oklahoma City again, being in that atmosphere in the playoffs,” Durant said. “It’s always fun.”