OAKLAND –- One of their most memorable games of this unforgettable Warriors season was played against the Thunder in Oklahoma City. The teams now have an opportunity to recreate such drama with even higher stakes.
The Warriors and Thunder will meet in the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City advanced after a 113-99 win over San Antonio in Game 6 on Thursday night. The Warriors advanced one day earlier, beating Portland in five.
The Warriors in the regular season swept three games from the Thunder, winning twice at Oracle Arena and prevailing in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The OT win on Feb. 27 was remarkable for Stephen Curry’s game-winning shot, a soaring pull-up 3-pointer from 37 feet, fired after taking three steps across the halfcourt stripe. The Warriors danced off the court with a 121-118 victory.
After severely rolling his ankle early in the third quarter, Curry was re-taped, returned to the game about five minutes later and was the star of the game, scoring 46 points.
Here is a brief recap of the three games between the teams:
Feb. 6 at Oracle Arena: Played one day before Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, the Warriors fell behind 9-0 before tightening the defense and holding OKC to 42.6-percent shooting in a 116-108 victory. Curry led Warriors scorers with 26 points, while Mo Speights scored 15 points to lead a bench that contributed 42. Kevin Durant (40) and Russell Westbrook (27) combined for 67 points.
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Feb. 27 at Chesapeake Energy Arena: Curry was the hero of a game featuring several anxious moments. Draymond Green went on a halftime tirade, directed mostly at coach Steve Kerr. Green recovered and was terrific, totaling eight rebounds and eight assists after intermission. Andre Iguodala made two free throws with 0.7 seconds left in regulation to force OT. Curry scored 46 points and Klay Thompson finished with 32. Durant scored 37 points for OKC, while Westbrook had 26.
March 3 at Oracle: Curry scored 33 points and Thompson tossed in 21 as the Warriors rode a fourth-quarter surge to post a 121-106 win for their. He was re-taped, returned later in the quarter and record-tying 44th consecutive home victory. Trailing 80-73 with 4:53 left in the third quarter, the Warriors closed within one after three before opening the final quarter with a 13-4 run. Durant scored 32 points for OKC, Westbrook 22 and Serge Ibaka 20.
