The Oklahoma City Thunder have made mortals out of the Golden State Warriors. On Tuesday, they dismantled a team that won 73 regular season games in a 118-94 win to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the defending NBA champs after Game 4.
Warriors vs. Thunder 2016 final score: Oklahoma City overpowers Golden State to take 3-1 series lead
The Thunder’s athleticism was once again too much for the Warriors as Oklahoma City rolled to a 118-94 win in Game 4.
The Warriors hadn't lost two games in a row since last year's NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Thunder's athleticism was once again too much.
Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, and Kevin Durant added another 26 points to put the Thunder within one win of going to the NBA Finals.
Klay Thompson led the way for the Warriors with 26 points as Stephen Curry struggled to get 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting. Draymond Green was a non-factor after the controversy created when he kicked Steven Adams in Game 3.
The Thunder picked up where they left off that night, continuing with aggressive play early. They went on a 16-0 run after falling behind 8-6, after which the Warriors looked shaken. Behind the calming play of Andre Iguodala and Festus Ezeli with Green on the bench, Golden State stayed in the game, closing the first quarter on an 11-2 to close the deficit, 30-26.
The game turned chippy in the second quarter, with whistle after whistle keeping both teams from getting into a rhythm. With a 48-42 lead, the Thunder once again took a page from Game 3 and demoralized the Warriors to end the half. Thanks to a 24-11 run, they took a 72-53 lead into the third quarter.
Thompson wouldn’t letting the Warriors fold, though. He caught fire in the third, scoring 19 straight for the Warriors to bring them back into the game. They cut the lead to six at one point, and went into the fourth down 12 points despite zero points from Curry in the quarter.
The Thunder were too strong in the fourth, however, as they were through the first three games of the series. Westbrook and Durant continued their assault on the Warriors as they pulled away for a 24-point win.
The Thunder will have a chance to close things out in Game 5 in Oakland on Thursday. Here are three things we learned from Game 4:
Kevin Durant is stepping up defensively
Durant led the Thunder on the offensive end of the court, sure, but it was his defense that really made a difference. His length is is terrorizing the Warriors -- passes they have gotten away with all season don’t make it past Durant, and his long arms allow him to alter a shot at the rim even if he’s been beaten on a drive or is coming over to help. He had three blocks.
There’s no doubt that Curry deserved the MVP award this season, but Durant -- and Westbrook, for that matter -- is outplaying him in this series. He and Westbrook are outplaying the entire league.
The athleticism of the Thunder is too much for the Warriors
It wasn't just Durant's size and athleticism giving the Warriors fits in Games 3 and 4, it was the entire Thunder roster. Adams is having his way down low despite being injured on every other play. The length of Serge Ibaka and Andre Roberson affected the Warriors, as well. And, of course, Westbrook's intensity continued to take the Thunder to new heights.
Durant has been spectacular this postseason, but Westbrook continues to be the driving force. His relentlessness is something the Warriors haven’t faced. He’s always pressing, and defending him apears to be tiring Curry out -- which in turn is hurting Curry’s offensive game. Each of the Warriors are facing the same problem. The work they’re putting in on both sides of the ball is exhausting.
The Warriors’ Death Lineup is dead, and the Warriors might be too
Golden State went to its “unstoppable lineup” early -- only four minutes into the game -- but like in Game 3, it didn’t help. The Thunder ran back at them, and opened up an early 14-point lead. We keep saying it, but the Warriors are rattled -- Draymond Green especially. He had just six points and turned the ball over six times. The Warriors did a good job of not wilting once they went down in Game 4, but the Thunder are too strong, too fast and too long for them.
Writing off a 73-win team is foolish, but it seems the Thunder have solved the Warriors.
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Draymond Green’s flagrant foul on Sunday
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