The excitement that came with the first half vanished quicker than a Westbrook drive to the rim. Durant’s loss was felt throughout Oracle and carried on with the play on the court. After two incredible quarters, Perry Jones entered the game for Durant and there was a collective feeling of emptiness.
It benefitted the Warriors, as they ended up with the 114-109 victory, but the wonder of Kevin Durant still loomed large. The second half was on its way towards another Thunder explosion before Mo Speights slipped in trying to draw a charge – a clean yet frustrating play – with only seconds left in the half.
The second half became the Westbrook Show for Oklahoma City, but he couldn’t put together any string of consistency. Steve Kerr had Curry on Westbrook for the first half and Klay Thompson on him in the second. Stopping Westbrook at the rim is difficult, but the Warriors found ways to get in the driving lanes, forcing him into tough shots and leaving him begging for calls at the rim much of the second half.
After Harrison Barnes got torched throughout the entirety of the Durant onslaught, Andre Iguodala was quickly tabbed as next up. Say what you will about his shooting woes, but on the defensive end he’s still elite. His length and awareness are invaluable to his game on that end it often goes unnoticed when you see two missed free throws. Iguodala saw Westbrook at times in the second half, which contributed to the numerous looks and frustrations that Westbrook experienced to end the night.
Offensively, while Curry led the way with 15 second half points, it was a collective effort. The winning possession, which Kerr described as one that he wasn’t pleased with (with a subtle shot at former coach Mark Jackson, by the way) was a post-up for Barnes in a play that would’ve had social media rampant last season. The shot went in, but Kerr would’ve got roasted if Barnes missed.
Draymond Green continues his #PayDray campaign, hitting 7 of his 14 shots for 16 points, grabbing nine rebounds, dishing out nine assists in just over 44 minutes. He said after the game that he knew he was close, but didn’t want to sacrifice the win for it. Shaun Livingston is beginning to find his way as Curry’s primary backup and running mate in certain situations. His turnaround in the post is borderline lethal, and given his length and size advantage in certain match-ups, he becomes a force for Kerr on both ends of the floor.
This was a scoring bonanza turning must-win for the Warriors. Durant went haywire in the first half, but the Thunder took the lead late in the game for a mere possession. With Kerr, the confidence and trust this team has in one another is palpable. Despite the Warriors losing the lead with 2:59 left in the game, there was no panic. Given the veteran leadership and growth inhibited in this fantastic early season run, this team is learning how to win.