As the Thunder return to Oklahoma City, they will need another superb showcase from their two MVP-caliber players. Not because of the common foul, it was one by Durant. The only thing they can do is to simply try to be as close to flawless as possible for three of the next five games. “It’s just some pain, so I’ll be all right”, Curry told reporters after Game Two. When I get open shots, that’s the game plan obviously. After dropping 10 points on only six shots in Game 1, the unconscionable shot-jacking Waiters we know and love reverted to form in Game 2.
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As for the Thunder, Kevin Durant had a solid game of 29 points on 11 of 18 shooting but he had little support from his teammates as no one finished in double figures outside of Russell Westbrook’s 16 points and 12 assists. The series tied 1-1 after winning 118-91 in game 2 before losing in the third game on Monday. If he does he could serve as a spark plug to get he rest of his team going as well to cruise to a game 3 win. After all, the franchise set the all-time single National Basketball Association season wins record on the last night before the playoffs, and have been dominant in almost every side of the game this season. As it stands, the Thunder could win the series in Game 6 without having to win another road game.
His demeanor certainly isn’t like that of his former power forward father, Mychal, a No. 1 overall pick by Portland in 1978 who played 12 National Basketball Association seasons.
In fact, his fairly valuable shooting arm looked largely bad after the game, when Curry sported a big, round lump on the outside of his elbow.
It bears noting that none of those point guards, as great as they are, have had to go it alone in these playoffs.
Curry wore a compression sleeve on his bruised right elbow, but he was a full participant in Friday’s practice.
The Warriors spend a lot of time of readjusting standards, and avoided the 0-2 hole thanks primarily to 15 points in a wild 118-second stretch by Stephen Curry in the third quarter of Game 2.
As the fleeting exchange between Durant and Green showed, though, these teams are just getting started. But last series – we can’t really worry about that too much. They couldn’t find a shot after getting in the lane, and resorted to making risky passes through a thicket of Adams, Ibaka and Durant limbs.
Golden State also suffered from the sudden disappearance of Klay Thompson from the offensive end.
Curry was nine-of-15 from the floor, while he nailed five three-pointers. This includes a horrendous 2-for-8 performance from three-point range.
OKC has yet to lose a playoff game when KD crosses the 30-point barrier.
Or, if you’re more of a DC guy, these two combine to be Batman and Robin while they continue to get no help from Gotham.
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Yet being flawless for seven games is impossible, as it became clear in Wednesday’s Game 2. “As long as we take care of home court advantage and do what we’re supposed to do and leave everything out there, then we’ll be fine”. By contrast, the pair had 27 points and 23 rebounds during game 1. At the writing of this column, the field had been narrowed to the Final Four: the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champion Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors.
