Behind 33 points from Kevin Durant and 30 from Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday humbled defending NBA champions Golden State 133-105 to seize the lead in their playoff series.
The Thunder grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals and captured momentum with the lopsided blowout, making today’s fourth game at Oklahoma City crucial for both teams.
“We have got to keep the same intensity, same attack mode,” Westbrook said. “They did not have the best record in the NBA for nothing. We have got to come back with the same mindset and play with the same intensity.”
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Golden State, who set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins, have not lost two games in a row all season, but must quickly bounce back from an embarrassment.
“Using our brains, making them compete, moving the ball — we did not do any of those things and we got what we deserved,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I am confident we are going to come out and play a great game in Game 4. We will see what happens.”
Either the Thunder, who have won 10 best-of-seven series in a row when going up 2-1, or the Warriors are to face the Eastern Conference winners, the Toronto Raptors or the Cleveland Cavaliers, in next month’s NBA Finals.
In addition to sparking the highest-scoring performance by any team in any NBA playoff game this year, Westbrook and Durant each added eight rebounds and blocked two shots, while Westbrook also contributed 12 assists.
“We have got a physical team, an athletic team and we tried to use that to the best of our ability,” Westbrook said. “Our guys do a great job of putting in the work every day. My job is to put the ball in their hands.”
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 24 points and Klay Thompson added 18, but Curry only hit seven of 17 shots from the floor, Thompson shot eight of 19 and Draymond Green was one of nine. The Warriors were also outrebounded 52-38.
“Come Game 4, we have to grind them out,” Thompson said. “We cannot have Westbrook and Durant combine to shoot 60 percent.”
Durant scored 23 in the first half, while Westbrook added 16 as the Thunder leaped ahead in the second quarter and piled on more punishment in the second half, stretching the lead to 117-80 after three quarters and going on to match a club playoff scoring record.
“We were physical and we rebounded the ball well,” Durant said. “My teammates did a great job taking the pressure off me. We have to keep playing with the same energy and passion.”
The Thunder closed the second quarter on a 32-7 run to seize a 72-47 halftime edge, aided by the Warriors missing 21 of their last 23 first-half shots from the floor.
“Frustrating way to end the quarter,” Curry said. “It was a bad flow out there. We could not stop it. That six minutes decided the game. That is something we have to take care of in Game 4.”
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