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Game Report: Warriors’ Splash Brothers thwart late Thunder surge

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 20: Klay Thompson #11 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks with each other against Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 20, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 20: Klay Thompson #11 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks with each other against Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 20, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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There appears to be something in the air whenever Warriors‘ guard Klay Thompson visits Oklahoma City. He may not have been as prolific as Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, but he again buried the Thunder’s chances in much the same manner.

The Warriors controlled the game for most of the final three quarters before the Thunder capitalized on some late Warrior turnovers to open up the potential of a tense finish. Thompson thwarted any such predicament, knocking down two of his three three-pointers in the final two and a half minutes.

The Golden State Warriors chalked up their ninth straight win on Monday, defeating a spirited Oklahoma City Thunder 110-98 at Paycom Center.

Early on, Golden State looked like a team coming off a three-day break.

They produced some sloppy turnovers on the way to just 15 points across the first 11 minutes of the contest. But a 36-23 second quarter lifted them to a double-digit halftime lead, led by 13 points from Andrew Wiggins and 11 from Jonathan Kuminga.

That lead was maintained throughout the majority of the second half, not that it ever got to a comfortable level where the starters could be rested in the fourth. Still, the game seemed destined for an uneventful finish with the margin at 13 with less than four minutes to play.

Raising their urgency, the Thunder brought an element of full-court defensive pressure the Warriors struggled to respond to. Three Warrior turnovers later and the Thunder had gone on an 8-0 within a minute of playing time.

That’s where Thompson stepped up to calm Warrior fans, the win was then punctuated by a difficult Curry three in the final minute. It mightn’t have been the most comprehensive victory, but it was a win nonetheless against a young Thunder team that can be dangerous on their own floor.

Thompson top-scored for the Warriors with 21 points, while Curry fell one rebound away from a triple-double as he continues to pile up the assists in Draymond Green’s absence.

Kuminga again produced outrageous highlight plays in his 16-point, four-rebound, four-assist game, with Jordan Poole also going close to a triple-double with 11 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds.

The Warriors shot exactly 50% from the floor, a mark they needed given the Thunder took eight more field goal attempts. That emanated from an 18-6 offensive rebound disparity, with the Warriors using Kuminga as a back-up five for reasonable periods.

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The 41-13 Warriors now travel to Utah to face the Jazz on Wednesday.

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