Warriors top Thunder on controversial buzzer-beater

STEPHEN CURRY scored 30 points, including the winning layup in the final second, to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 141-139 victory over the host Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday in an NBA in-season tournament game.

As Curry’s ball was going through the basket, Draymond Green made contact with the rim.

After a lengthy review, Green’s contact was deemed “not to cause the ball to take an unnatural bounce” and the basket was counted.

The game was the first for both teams in the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament.

The final sequence was one of four late reviews — all involving Green.

With the Thunder leading by one and with just more than two minutes remaining, Luguentz Dort was called for a foul on Green away from the ball as Curry let a three-pointer fly.

Oklahoma City challenged the call, which was reversed to an illegal screen on Green.

Moments later, Green went up for a shot near the basket, and his left elbow caught the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren near the eye.

Holmgren remained down for a few minutes before walking off the floor.

Officials ruled Green’s contact to be incidental after another review.

With 32,5 seconds left, Green was called for a blocking foul on Holmgren that was challenged by the Warriors.

That call stood, and Holmgren made both free throws to put Oklahoma City back in front 138-137.

The game was tied after Dort made one of two free throws with 16,4 seconds left, with Golden State calling time out to set up the final shot.

Dario Saric added 20 points off the bench for the Warriors, who have won five consecutive games following an opening loss.

Golden State got 19 points from Jonathan Kuminga, 18 from Klay Thompson, 17 from Andrew Wiggins and 15 from Green.

Reserve Chris Paul contributed 13 assists.

The Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who sat out with a left knee sprain he sustained late in the team’s Wednesday loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Dort led Oklahoma City with 29 points, making all six of his threepoint attempts.

It was the highest-scoring game since the 2021-22 season.

Holmgren added a season-high 24 points, while Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey added 18 each.

Giddey scored 14 points in the fourth quarter. — Reuters.