Still minus Durant, Warriors whip Thunder

LOS ANGELES, USA – The Golden State Warriors seemed to have found their rhythm minus Kevin Durant.  

Playing minus the two-time Finals MVP anew, the Warriors came out clicking from the get-go to rout the Oklahoma City Thunder, 110-88, and formally secure a playoff berth in the NBA on Saturday, March 16 (Sunday, March 17, Manila time). 

Steph Curry fired 33 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead the Warriors, who dropped 40 points in the 1st quarter.  

Durant, who sprained his ankle during the Warriors’ shock loss to the Phoenix Suns last Sunday, also sat out during the defending champions’ narrow win over the Houston Rockets. 

“Over the course of the game we imposed our will,” said Curry. “We did our best to take care of the basketball so they didn’t have easy transition opportunities. 

“And we rebounded the ball well. So all things considered, really solid effort, knowing that if you give them momentum in this building, they are tough.”

@StephenCurry30‘s 33 PTS, 5 3PM propel the @warriors to victory in OKC! #DubNation pic.twitter.com/0yicqogWMD

— NBA (@NBA) March 17, 2019

The usual suspects delivered the goods for the Warriors as Klay Thompson collected 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block.

DeMarcus Cousins also had an all-around game of 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a couple of blocks, while Draymond Green scored 9 on top of 8 rebounds and 6 assists.  

The Warriors, who advanced to the playoffs for the seventh straight season, hiked their conference-best record to 47-21 as the Thunder slipped to 5th at 42-28 in the West side. 

Paul George powered the Thunder with 29 points and 13 rebounds, while triple-double machine Russell Westbrook didn’t reach twin digits in any stat category with 7 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. 

Westbrook, who was fined $25,000 earlier in the week after an altercation with Utah Jazz fans, had a dismal 2-for-16 shooting and missed all 7 of his three-point attempts.

 The Thunder shot a season-worst 32% from the field and made just 13 of 41 three-pointers.

“We were trying to prevent him from getting downhill, beating you from the outside because when he’s getting to the rim, attacking, that’s when everybody’s getting the ball at their best,” Thompson said of stopping Westbrook. – With a report from Agence France-Presse