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| AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki |
After a slow start to the first quarter, the Thunder were able to go on a 12-2 run - the result of excellent defense - and they never looked back. Oklahoma City was able to score 10 points off of 5 Warriors turn overs to help them get out to a 12 point lead, and dominated the paint - scoring 18 points on 9/13 shooting.
Serge was huge in the first quarter, scoring 11 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting to go along with 4 blocks and 3 rebounds.
The Thunder blew their lead wide open in the second, out scoring the Warriors 27-33 and holding them to just 40% shooting. Russell Westbrook and KD combined for 18 points on 6-19 shooting to help the Thunder extend their lead and to continue their dominance in the paint, out scoring the Warriors 16-6 in the quarter. The Warriors were still plagued with turn overs, turning it over 6 times, and Oklahoma City was able to capitalize - scoring 9 points.
Coming out of half time the Thunder were slow to start things off. They shot just 37% in the quarter and struggled to find their offensive rhythm. KD Kept the Thunder afloat in the third scoring 11 points on 5-9 shooting though he finished the quarter -7. Golden State found success in the paint - scoring 12 points, which was the most they scored in a quarter in the game, but still struggled defensively as they allowed another 14 Thunder points in the paint.
Despite the Warriors closing the gap to 11 points at one point, the 2nd unit came out in the fourth and extended their lead back into the 20's until it was too late for the Warriors. K-Mart was the catalyst of the offensive - going 2-3 from the 3-point line and scoring 10 points on 4-5 shooting. The up-and-coming back-up point guard in Reggie Jackson had a career-high 12 points tonight, 10 of which came in the fourth to help K-Mart and the 2nd unit close out the Warriors. K-Mart was quoted after the game stating that the Warriors had some dirty plays that "helped inspire us as a team", and it certainly did.
The Thunder take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday at the Peake'.
Thunder Essentials:
Controlling the glass - C+
Oklahoma City out rebounded the Warriors 50-49 in tonight's game. The Warriors were able to grab 13 offensive rebounds but were held to just 14 second chance points. The Thunder were able to score 16 second chance points off of just 10 offensive rebounds. This rating would've been lower if it wasn't for them out rebounding the best defensive rebounding team in the league.
Defending the 3 pointer - C
The Thunder allowed the Warriors to shoot 50% from beyond the arc tonight, but never really had to worry about the 3-pointers since they came in times where they did not matter. They Thunder had a double-digit lead throughout the game and were able to defend the painted area very well. The Warriors shot just 40% from the field and that's a big reason the Thunder were able to hold on to their lead.
Fastbreak - A
Westbrook and Co were excellent in the break tonight - scoring 20 points compared to just 14 for the Warriors. The Thunder's aggressive defense was able to score 29 points off turn overs and that certainly helped their cause.
Worth Noting (Points in the paint) - A++
The Thunder Absolutely demolished the Warriors in the paint tonight. The Thunder scored 64 points in the paint, that's half of the points they scored in the game. They allowed the Warriors to score 40 points in the painted area but when you score 64 points in the paint you have a very good chance at winning.
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