Stars shine as Warriors defeat Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY >> The Warriors lack healthy bodies. They still have a surplus of All-Stars, though. The Warriors also have two players who can handle pressure-filled moments after spending the past year mostly in the G-League.
Despite missing Stephen Curry and a handful of key reserves, the Warriors survived against Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, relying on two formulas for a 111107 victory.
As expected, Kevin Durant (34 points), Klay Thompson (20 points) and Draymond Green (five points, eight assists, four rebounds) assumed most of the responsibility. In what became a pleasant development, Quinn Cook took another area of growth (12 points, six assists), while second-year center Damian Jones took advantage of his first extended playing time (eight points on 4-of-4 shooting in 15 minutes).
“It’s a lot easier to play when you have three All-Stars on the floor and everybody else can fill in around them,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
If only it were that simple, though, for the Warriors to tell their All-Star players to do what they do best.
The Warriors still had to absorb trading three lead changes. They still had to absorb the seem-
ingly inevitable onslaught from Russell Westbrook (44 points on 15-of-26 shooting). They also had to absorb the Thunder taking an 81-80 lead with 1:57 left in the third quarter after last leading midway through the second quarter.
Still, the Warriors (57-21) prevented the Thunder (4534) from becoming the first Western Conference team to beat them three times in the regular season since the 2014-15 campaign by delivering in key moments.
Durant drilled a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 97-93 lead with 4:58 left. Nearly 14 seconds later, Durant set up Jones for a bucket. Durant committed a costly turnover that set up Corey Brewer for a dunk to cut the Warriors’ lead to 107-105 with 18.1 seconds left. Durant also shot only 9 of 25 from the field after opening the first quarter with 15 points on a 4-of-8 clip. Yet, Durant offset that with timely shots, a 14-of-14 mark from the freethrow
line, 10 rebounds and four assists.
“I was definitely frustrated by that. But I just kept playing and kept trying to make winning basketball plays each possession and cheer my guys on and encourage the team,” Durant said. “Just be me. In the past when I was a younger player, I would let that affect me with making or missing shots dictate how I play. I tried to stay in it.”
In his third game since missing the previous eight with a fractured right thumb, Thompson shot 9 of 19 from the field and still exerted energy to hustle on defense against Paul George, who had 20 points on only 5-of-19 shooting.
“They missed some shots. But we tried to make them beat us one-on-one,” Thompson said. “We have some great one-on-one defense. They got NBA players and can make shots and make plays. But we never get deterred and we always stay the course.”
The Warriors’ coaching staff jokingly referred to Green as former NBA point guard Mateen Cleaves during morning shootaround. Then during the game, Green excelled at the point forward position. He often ran the offense both in halfcourt and in transition. When Thompson and Nick Young picked up two fouls in the first quarter, Green played a bit at point guard. Green also made a pair of foul shots that gave the Warriors a 111-107 cushion with 10.1 seconds left.
“Just go knock them down like any other free throw you take,” Green said. “You make more of the situation, but it’s just two free throws. It’s like taking a free throw in practice.”
• Andre Iguodala (left knee), Kevon Looney (flu), Omri Casspi (right ankle) and Shaun Livingston (personal reasons) all missed Tuesday’s game.
Kerr expressed optimism that Iguodala will return for Thursday’s game in Indiana after missing the previous two games with the same injury. It is not clear on the other reserves, though. Looney and Livingston rejoined the Warriors in Indiana, while Casspi stayed in Oakland to receive treatment.