NBA on Sling TV: Oklahoma City at Golden State, Game 7
#3 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #1 Golden State Warriors,Series tied 3-3 (9pm ET Monday, TNT)
The Oklahoma City Thunder appear to have forgotten Omar Little’s classic dictum: Come at the king, you best not miss. Leading the defending world champion Warriors by 8 early in the fourth quarter, thisclose to a trip to the Finals, the Thunder had them in their sights, but again and again their shot was wide. Nine minutes later, Golden State’s Klay Thompson had set the NBA playoff record for 3-pointers in a game, and the Warriors had secured a 108-101 victory and a trip home for Game 7.
The Thunder were up 83-75 at the top of the fourth, when Thompson drained three 3-pointers to cut the lead to 85-81. Two minutes later, Thompson would hit from down low and then downtown for to cut it to 96-92. Two minutes after that, a pair of Steph Curry 3’s would tie the score at 99-99 with 2:48 to play. At a 1:35, Thompson would hit yet another 3, his record 11th of the night, to give the Warriors their biggest lead since midway through the first quarter. With 14 seconds left, Curry would shimmy and shake past his man, drive down the right side, and float a layup high off the glass for a 106-101 lead. Moments later, Russell Westbrook would make a deadly turnover, forcing OKC to foul Thompson, sending him to the line for the last two points of the night.
When the buzzer had finally sounded, Thompson had scored 41 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter alone, and Curry had posted a comparatively modest 29-10-9. Durant was his usual self with 29-7-3, and Westbrook went 28-9-11, but the Thunder’s duo made just 35% from the floor, while combining for 8 turnovers, 6 of which came in the crucial fourth quarter.
Golden State has made their bones these past two seasons with the 3-pointer, and on this night it was the difference in the game, as they 21 of 44 for 48%, while the Thunder, who had come into Game 6 having shot 35% from downtown during the playoff, they hit on 13%, making just 3 of 23, with Westbrook and Durant a combined 1-for-13.
OKC has gotta be kicking themselves right now, but they have one more chance to close the deal.
Watch the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Golden State Warriors at 9pm ET Monday on TNT.
All stats courtesy ESPN and Basketball Reference