Warriors defeat Thunder, 121-118: Quotes of the night
Here are the best quotes after the Golden State Warriors’ win in thrilling fashion over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Just when you think you have seen it all from the Golden State Warriors, they come back and do something extraordinary that leaves everyone talking. On Saturday night, the Warriors did just about everything in a thrilling comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Just when it looked like the Warriors were going to be put away late, they put together the craziest sequence to tie the game being down four. Then in overtime, they managed to tie the game again and everyone thought the game was destined for double overtime.
However, Stephen Curry was having none of that and launched a three from 38.4-feet out to win the game for the Warriors and break the Internet in one fell swoop. Just when it seemed like Curry’s shooting ability couldn’t be anymore insane, his 12th three of the night came from near half-court and it looked like a breeze. Curry also ended up breaking his own record for three-pointers in a season. It was a game played with a playoff atmosphere and was one of the greatest regular season games of all time.
After the game, Thunder head coach Billy Donovan was asked about the game and if he had seen anything like it. According to The Oklahoman‘s Anthony Slater, Donovan compared it to one of the craziest games in college basketball history involving Christian Laettner and Kentucky.
Asked Billy Donovan if he'd ever been a part of a game like this: "I was on the bench when Duke beat Kentucky (Laettner shot)." Oh, yeah.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 28, 2016
A loss like this could be absolutely devastating for the Thunder going forward. The big question is will it affect the team mentally as they prepare for the rest of the season. Kevin Durant said after the game that he was going to have a nice meal and he would be fine.
Kevin Durant on if this loss will linger: "I'm gonna go home, make a nice meal, a glass of wine and I'll be straight."
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 28, 2016
Durant of course, made the big error that led to two big free throws from Andre Iguodala at the very end. Still, the Thunder had the Warriors on the ropes and they let them right off the hook. There’s no doubt this one is going to be felt for a while.
One of the more interesting developments of Saturday night’s game, was the tirade that Draymond Green reportedly went on at halftime. Green had a spirited game and came up huge for the Warriors on all ends of the floor despite his shot not falling. Even though Green really got after it during halftime, neither he or Steve Kerr really gave much info, according to San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Rusty Simmons.
Steve Kerr on Draymond Green's halftime tirade: "Things happen, there’s nothing to it and that’s the end of it.”
— Rusty Simmons (@JRustySimmons) February 28, 2016
Draymond Green on his halftime tirade: "What goes on in here, stays in here. ... That’s not going to stop me from leading this team.”
— Rusty Simmons (@JRustySimmons) February 28, 2016
Finally, the man of the hour, Stephen Curry, mentioned at the end that things went the Warriors way because they forced them to go their way.
Stephen Curry: "If you think about all the things that had to go our way, and the things that we forced our way, it was just a great win.”
— Rusty Simmons (@JRustySimmons) February 28, 2016
Curry isn’t wrong at all. Championship teams don’t wait around for something to happen at all. They go out and make the plays to win the game. The Thunder had a momentary lapse of judgement on the final possession of regulation and it allowed the Warriors to get right back in the game and steal it.
The Warriors finish their seven-game road trip with an impressive six wins and are now just 20 wins away from making NBA history. The Warriors also clinched a playoff spot on Saturday night, as they became the earliest team to do so in the history of the league.
The Warriors keep on making history and marching toward history.