The feeling around the Warriors before Game 2 of the Western Conference finals was as unfamiliar as it was unmistakable: anxiety.
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The fall left Curry with visible swelling on his elbow – but the Warriors star is adamant he will be fit to face the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Oklahoma City’s rebounding edge was always considered a significant factor in this series.
For the Thunder, Kevin Durant had a sublime game, hitting 11 out of 18 shots for his 29 points. “It’s not foreign land to us. We just have to keep focusing on what we do and playing the right way, and hopefully it works out in our favor”. Then, he took out any remaining frustrations from Monday’s loss on the Thunder. They were outrebounded 45-36 and turned the ball over 15 times.
“Tonight there were some times we let him get a little bit loose, and we’ve got to do a better job there staying attached and connected and trading him off when we need to trade him off”. “It’s a good opportunity for us, you’ve gotta take advantage of it”.
But with extra energy, effort and hustle, the Warriors did much more than keep that battle close – Kerr’s previous goal.
“Way too many quick shots”, coach Steve Kerr said. That’s something we tried to do the last two years with the bench – sustain it when we’re winning. It’s a great venue. “My body’s catching up and I think I’m there”. The Warriors outrebounded the Thunder for the first time this season. The shot was a defining moment in Curry’s run to his second straight MVP award.
“Elbow’s fine”, Curry said, according to ESPN’s J.A. Adande. “To get that win meant a lot”.
With the series headed back to Oklahoma City, Durant knows that his team’s toughest test is yet to come.
“Or if we haven’t quite found the flow, find it, so when the first group comes back in, they’re ready to go”.
The question had to be begged: Were the Warriors going to play without the best version of the league’s best player?
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Returning from a sprained MCL in his right knee, Curry admitted that he wasn’t at 100 percent entering the series with the Thunder, and it looked that way in the Warriors’ Game 1 loss and for all but a few plays in the first half of Game 2. “They come in with an aggressive mindset”. That would trans late to about a 60-40 edge to the defend ing champions, even though they must now win four of six games. “We just have to go out and play hard, play with that same kind of spirit”.
