Game Recap: Thunder 97, Warriors 118

Defending Stephen Curry and the Warriors from behind the 3-point line is all the time a problem, and on Thursday the Thunder weren’t fairly in a position to get strong sufficient contests as Golden State hit 19 pictures from behind the arc.

All season lengthy the Thunder has set its sights at making ready its gamers for night-to-night NBA challenges by stacking itself up in opposition to the very best of the very best. As a rule for a younger group, these sorts of matchups will include rising pains. That was the case on Thursday evening in San Francisco because the Thunder dropped one to the Warriors, a group that has been battling by way of accidents all season however is on the cusp of securing a spot within the playoff play-in video games.

With second yr stopper Lu Dort tasked with defending two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry, the Thunder aimed to get a take a look at how these two would work in opposition to each other, power in opposition to power. Sadly for Dort, a flurry of fast fouls took him out of the sport within the first half and tripped up any momentum he was constructing after some sturdy defensive stops. Dort racked up 4 fouls within the first half alone and Curry was in a position to play loosely, ripping off 34 factors on 6-of-13 capturing from 3.

“It’s the primary time (Dort) has guarded Curry. You develop a really feel for actually good gamers,” mentioned Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. “That’s clearly a distinct preparation than some other participant within the league.”

In fact, as with all defensive task, Curry wasn’t Dort’s accountability alone. Daigneault has been preaching a five-man defensive unit that solves issues with everybody on the ground, not people. Whereas the Thunder hung as powerful because it might in opposition to the Warriors given a definite lack of rhythm, Head Coach Mark Daigneault could have loads for the group to evaluate earlier than going through off in opposition to Golden State in Saturday’s rematch.

“Towards a group like Golden State with a participant like Curry, you wish to make the function gamers beat you and tonight we acquired a bit unfastened on Curry, however you’ve acquired to credit score these guys,” mentioned Daigneault. “Mulder made pictures, Toscano was actually good. Inexperienced, clearly is past a task participant however was actually good facilitating. We made them go deep into possessions they usually made the fitting performs. They’re a great group, however there’s some stuff that we are able to clear up for certain and we’ll proceed to take action.”

The Warriors acquired the lead early however the Thunder threatened behind 10 of Théo Maledon’s 15 factors coming within the first quarter and 12 of Ty Jerome’s career-high-tying 23 factors coming within the second quarter. The Thunder’s guards stayed aggressive in opposition to the Warriors backcourt to try to make them take as a lot as they gave on offense, however this one was a runaway victory for Golden State within the fourth quarter.

The Thunder put stress on Golden State mid-way by way of the third quarter with a 9-2 burst to make it only a 68-60 Warriors lead, however an unlucky play within the closing seconds of the interval gave Golden State all of the momentum heading into the ultimate body. As Curry drove by way of the lane he kicked out to Mychal Mulder within the left nook for one in all his seven made threes. Curry then stopped in his tracks, baiting an off-the-ball foul on Thunder rookie Josh Corridor, proper as Mulder’s 3-pointer went up within the air. Curry hit the free throw, then scored once more to shut out the quarter on a 6-0 Warriors run.

Staying in assault mode the best way he has since coming back from a shoulder harm, Darius Bazley drove onerous to the center of the ground, felt out the protection and spun onerous in direction of his proper hand. As he went up his layup was disrupted, however Bazley stayed with it and slapped the ball into the basket off the glass, all whereas getting fouled. Bazley completed the sport with 22 factors, together with 4 makes from 3 and 4 made free throws.

“He’s actually sturdy and athletic. He’s sturdy going left too,” Jerome mentioned of Bazley. “Folks anticipate it and he’s in a position to spin off it. I informed him that’s his signature transfer.”

10

Turnovers for the Thunder within the recreation, persevering with a pattern of the Thunder doing a wonderful job defending the ball in latest video games. For the reason that All-Star Break, turnovers had been a difficulty for the Thunder, because it averaged about 18 per evening. The Thunder now has back-to-back video games with simply 10 turnovers, exhibiting a powerful skill to adapt on the fly and study from errors.

“One of many hardest issues I’ve talked about this I feel earlier than is simply the, the stability between aggressiveness and confidence after which performance and ball safety,” mentioned Daigneault. “We’ve acquired numerous gamers which are looking for that stability.”

“The principle factor is we simply acquired to get again in transition on protection, do a greater job and tighten up a few issues.”
–Tony Bradley

“Even once you throw a very good recreation at them, they’re nonetheless actually onerous to protect, and I believed we did a very good job tonight, it offers us lots to work with. We’ll are available in tomorrow, we’ll get some work in and attempt to carry it over for that recreation in opposition to them on Saturday.”

–Coach Daigneault

The Thunder will stick round in San Francisco for one more couple days to tackle the Warriors once more on Saturday night, ending up the season sequence in opposition to Golden State. After that the Thunder will transfer on to 2 video games in Sacramento in opposition to the Kings.

Up subsequent: new recreation, similar opponent @okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/3GK45SKzIJ

— Bally Sports activities Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) Might 7, 2023