Last night, The Oklahoma City Thunder ended their road trip to West with a win over the Golden State Warriors, 123-95 the final score.
After a not exciting first quarter, which still had the Thunder ahead of five points (23-18), Oklahoma City took control in the second and increased the lead to fourteen points. As often happens, the Warriors came back from the long break roaring at the Thunder. Billy Donovan’s team struggled to contain the Golden State’s come back. After only two minutes and a half in the third quarter, the lead dropped from fourteen to three points, 62-59. However, this is the closest Golden State was for the remainder of the game. Oklahoma City finished the third quarter up by eight points and ran away to a big win in the last twelve minutes.
The Thunder are now fourth in the Western Conference, 11-6, with three consecutive games coming at home next.
Five Thoughts
- Dennis Schröder, impressive
Dennis Schröder played an outstanding game. He played under control, took smart shots, had a career-high three points made (five out of six attempts), and he was good on defense. Dennis finished with thirty-two points (12-19 FG, 5-6 3PT, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, four assists, one steal, and only one turnover. Not bad for your backup point guard if you ask me. If Schröder can keep providing solid performances through the year, then the Thunder are really going to be dangerous.
- Steven Adams, the force
The force: I guess this is the best way to describe Steven Adams. The Golden State Warriors didn’t have an answer for Adams during the whole first half. Steven finished the first twenty-four minutes with sixteen points. Golden State adjusted in the second half by always double-teaming Adams on defense. It did work, but it opened up space for other Thunder’s player. Steven will finish the game with twenty points, eleven rebounds (seven on offense), two assists and two steals.
- Russell Westbrook, still rustyRussell
Westbrook recorded his first triple-double of the season: eleven points, eleven rebounds, thirteen assists, plus two steals, one block, and four turnovers. Westbrook looks still rusty on offense, at least when it comes to shooting. He finished the game 5-15 from the floor, 1-5 from behind the arc, 0-2 from the free-throw line, and from time to time he seemed to be more out of control than usual. Westbrook is asked to play in a different way, he is clearly buying in, but it will take some time to adjust.
- Defensive mind
The Thunder played another solid defensive game and held the Warriors to only ninety-five points. Obviously, Golden State was missing two of their top four players in Curry and Green, but in a game where the offense is becoming the big part, the Thunder are still showing that defense wins games. The Thunder finished the game with ten steals and forced the Warriors to turn the ball over a total of seventeen times. Oklahoma City also kept Golden State below 25% from behind the three points line, and to only sixteen fastbreak points. The Thunder are now first in defensive rating at 102.6 and first in steals per game at 11.
- Bad Luck
After missing a few players in Sacramento, Oklahoma City was able to get most of them back against the Warriors. However, the bad luck didn’t take a break. The Thunder lost Terrence Ferguson after only six minutes due to a sprained ankle, and Haminu Diallo in the second half due to a leg injury (which looked worse than what might actually be). The Thunder are still without Andre Roberson, who’s recovering from his knee injury, and Alex Abrines, illness.
Up Next:
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be back at home on Friday night to play against the Charlotte Hornets. Tip-off 7 pm CT.
