The Golden State Warriors blew out the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-96 on Thursday at Oracle Arena.
This was Kevin Durant’s first game against his former team and he showed them why he’s one of the best players in the league. Durant dropped 39 points on his former mates with 29 of those coming in the first half. The defense was great for Golden State as well, as they held Oklahoma City to 40 percent shooting and blocked away 14 shots in the win. Free-throw shooting was a huge disparity as well, with the Thunder going just 16-of-28 and the Warriors going 16-of-20.
The Thunder (4-1) came into this game undefeated, but left feeling like they lost more than just a game. Russell Westbrook was especially discouraged, as he shot just 4-for-15 from the field and committed six turnovers in the defeat. With that said, he did tally 20 points, six rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes of play. Victor Oladipo led the team in scoring, dropping 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Steven Adams and Domantas Sabonis were the only other Thunder players in double figures, scoring 11 a piece. On deck for the Thunder is a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, which is the start of a five-game homestand.
The Warriors (4-1) had a lot of expectations headed into the season and games like this show why. Durant was especially impressive, as he scored his 39 points on 15-of-24 shooting, while making seven three-pointers. Stephen Curry was second on the team, as he accumulated 21 points and seven assists in the win. Klay Thompson scored 18 of his own, while also providing two rebounds, three assists and two steals. Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia dominated down low, combining for 17 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and seven blocks. Golden State has a quick turnaround for their next game, as they travel to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday for their next game.
