The Thunder entered Game 5 3-1 up in the series and with the knowledge that a win in Oakland would see them through to the NBA Finals.
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He said on Wednesday: “We’ve got to believe in ourselves”.
When the Warriors broke the record for most wins in an National Basketball Association regular season, everyone thought that this was a year that they would rule the playoffs for the second year in a row. “I try to play with passion each chance I get”, Durant said.
“Good news is we go home”.
The Thunder gave Golden State another first, as they scored the most points in one half against the Dubs in back-to-back games, 70 points and Sunday and 72 points on Tuesday.
Just a day after Warriors coach Steve Kerr criticised Bogut for his inability to stay out of foul trouble, the Australian centre stepped up. But after having returned to the match, Curry has failed to perform up to his standard. “We had to take him out of the game”. That was similar to his output in Game 3, when Curry shot 7-of-17 for 24 points. But in the series, the Thunder captured Game 1 at the arena and are hoping to do it again to be hailed Western Conference champions. SF Kevin Durant also contributed, recording a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Before the game Golden State coach Steven Kerr called on the supporters: “It’s a big game”. Draymond Green needs to play better.
Five Warriors scored in double figures, Curry putting in 31 points to lead the way.
Russell Westbrook backed Durant with 31 points to go with seven rebounds and a team-high eight assists.
“Boges was phenomenal”, Kerr told reporters about his performance in the Warriors’ 120-111 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Bryant knows a team overcoming a 3-1 deficit is entirely possible since he’s experienced it firsthand when his Lakers were on the wrong end of one such comeback in the 2006 postseason. But it was the bench mob, led by Mo Speights’ 14 points, that helped them get some breathing room in the final period. “I know he’s not injured. There’s obviously frustration”, said Curry, who is averaging more than 30 points per game in the series but missed nine of his first 10 shots in Game 4.
