But in Game 3, the Thunder used that lineup for almost 40 percent of plays and it worked like a charm.
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Durant finished with 33 points and eight rebounds, while Westbrook nearly had a triple-double 30 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.
“Frustrating way to end the quarter”, Curry said. Golden State finished with 15 offensive rebounds and 15 second-chance points. The Warriors trailed by as many as 41 points, marking the largest deficit (regular season and playoffs) since an April 9, 2012 loss at the Denver Nuggets.
Just when we thought that the defending champions would get things according to how they wanted them to be, Kevin Durant and his partner, Russell Westbrook, had other things to say.
“Come Game 4, we have to grind them out”, Thompson said.
On the Thunder’s free throw advantage over the last seven playoff games: “I think so much of the league, there is a high premium on the three-point line”.
The Warriors were able to come back and tie the game at 38-38 in the second quarter. It’s on us to make adjustments, boxing guys out and putting bodies on them and getting those rebounds.
Oklahoma City now leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.
“That’s two times in the last two games”.
‘Both times, we got blown out in Game 3, and we responded well, so we have that memory, ‘ Kerr said. “He’s just going to play, he’s going to be himself, and we’ll see what happens”. Klay Thompson scored 18 points.
Anybody who tells you that Draymond Green kicking Steven Adams in the crotch appeared unintentional is delusional.
“Kick him out! Kick him out!” Green picked up a flagrant 1 foul on the play which seemed to be intentional.
Green said the hit that sent Adams to the floor wasn’t that big a deal. “I’m not sure how anyone can say I did that on goal”.
Green claimed it was accidental, saying: “I’m sure he wants to have kids some day”. I’m not trying to kick someone in the mid-section. But regardless of whether a drive-by legging made for the most painful possible wake-up call or not, it’s the way the Thunder dominated after it that could have carry-over into Game 4 and beyond. Adams knocked down both flagrant free throws, Durant added three free throws before Westbrook added a pair of his own as the Thunder was up 11 points.
After following up their Game 1 loss with a dominant win, the Golden State Warriors have split their homestand and will hope to take the lead on the road.
In the third quarter it was more of the same, as the Thunder would continue to pour it on led by Durant, Westbrook, Waiters, and Ibaka.
Green attempted to go strong to the basket with a layup over Durant, but the Slim Reaper was having none of that, as he blocked Green’s shot before grabbing the ball and taking it the other way for a silky pull up 3-pointer in transition.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson attended the game and sat next to Durant’s mother, Wanda Pratt.
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By the end, the Warriors’ literal kicking wasn’t almost as powerful as the Thunder’s figurative one. The Thunder superstars combined for 63 points, while six Oklahoma City players in total scored in double figures. This marked only the fourth time that Roberson and Waiters scored in double figures in the same game. It was also about the Thunder maintaining its poise. Shot 52.3 percent in the first half and 50 percent overall. It’s that fine of a line when it comes to playing the Warriors.
