Warriors vs. Thunder 2017 final score: Kevin Durant buries Oklahoma City in return, 130-114

Kevin Durant’s first return to Oklahoma City since leaving for Golden State in free agency was an emotional roller coaster ride, but the result remained in tandem with the Warriors’ two dominating home victories over the Thunder earlier this season.

Golden State controlled the game from the end of the first quarter, when Russell Westbrook first went to the bench, to the very end, building a lead as big as 26 and quelling a late-game Thunder comeback attempt to win, 130-114, on Saturday.

Oklahoma City trailed by at least 12 points for the entire second half.

Thunder fans showered Durant with boos during pregame warmups and introductions, but the former Oklahoma All-Star poured in 34 points on 12-for-21 shooting, including a dagger three-pointer from long distance to lead his Warriors to a 3-0 season record against the Thunder this season.

Westbrook matched him tit for tat, charging head-first for 47 points on 14-for-26 shooting, 11 rebounds, eight assists and 11 turnovers.

But Oklahoma City simply lacked the firepower to match the Warriors’ four All-Stars. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson scored 26 points apiece on a combined 9-for-19 shooting from downtown, and Draymond Green — fresh off the league’s first-ever points-less triple-double — added eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block.

Durant has consistently downplayed the so-called drama between he and his former Thunder teammates. If there was even a modicum of thought that the beef was all talk, that notion got shot down on Saturday.

Durant and Westbrook got into a shouting match during a timeout late in the third quarter. Later, Andre Roberson fouled Durant on a layup attempt, leading to the two bumping heads and exchanging heated words.

Things are far from copacetic between the two, and after his return to the old stomping grounds, Durant can no longer ignore their strained relationship.

The Thunder are only as good as Westbrook can carry them, and though he poured in 47 points against Golden State, it was clear, as it has been all season, he doesn’t have the help he needs to compete against a stacked Warriors team.

Oklahoma City made just six of their 24 three-point attempts, and Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams were the only other Thunder players to score in double figures.

The Thunder will make the playoffs, but until they find their franchise point guard some help, it is improbable they make a deep playoff run against a top-heavy Western Conference.

The stars were aligned for the Thunder to dethrone Golden State in Durant’s return home. Westbrook, though falling short of a triple-double, had an incredible offensive output, showcasing his trademark reckless abandonment attacking the rim.

But the Warriors were able to silence a last-ditch Oklahoma City comeback effort doing what they do best: moving the ball and getting stops. Golden State (46-8) sits atop the Western Conference and is the prohibitive favorite to repeat as Western Conference champions.

And if Durant continues to produce at the rate he has, there is little that can be done to stop the Warriors from hoisting the trophy at season’s end.