OAKLAND -- The Golden State Warriors came out smoking hot, but the Thunder, ice cold.
Unfortunately, even as it began to cool down Golden State a bit in the third quarter, the Thunder could never get its own engine revved, as it fell 117-91 on Monday night. Head Coach Scott Brooks' club shot 30.6 percent from the floor on the night, including just 5-for-28 from the three-point line, while the Warriors shot 44.6 percent from the field, and a blistering 15-for-28 from the three-point line.
“We didn’t have the start we wanted to defensively,” Brooks said. “When you get behind against this team, it’s tough to make up ground because they shoot the ball so well.”
“That’s what they do,” Westbrook said of Golden State’s three-point shooting. “Mentally we have to use our heads and lock in defensively.”
The problems for the Thudner started in the first quarter when the Warriors burst out to 17-6 lead in the opening three-and-a-half minutes of this one behind ten Klay Thompson points. That lead would balloon to 22 in the second quarter, but the Thunder managed to hold Golden State’s vaunted offense to just 19 points in the third quarter, and cut the deficit to just 14 in the closing minutes of the period.
The Warriors had one more response in them however, in the form of a Justin Holiday jumper and an Andre Iguodala four-point play, all while the Thunder missed six straight shots. That burst was the killer blow to end any thoughts of a comeback.
“We didn’t make shots when they were making shots,” Brooks said. “It was a combination of everything. We have to make sure that we are locked in defensively. You can’t have one slip up. If you have a slip-up, they’re going to score, and that’s what they did tonight.”
“We just have to lock in,” Westbrook said. “Mentally we have to lock in for 48 minutes.”
Ultimately, the Thunder’s defense didn’t play with the aggressiveness, physicality and alertness that fans have been accustomed to seeing out of Thunder Basketball. Coming into the game, the Thunder ranked in the top three in the NBA in terms of opposing shooting percentage, but tonight it allowed the Warriors to get hot early, and that set the tone for the rest of the evening, especially considering the Thunder’s own offensive issues.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to shoot just 8-for-37 from the field, including 2-for-9 from the three-point line as the duo scored 36 points.
"Kevin and Russell had an off shooting night," Brooks said. "It was a combination of everything. They played great defense and we missed shots."
“Sometimes there are nights like that, but you have to keep going, find a way to keep attacking and find a way to try to keep your team in the game,” Westbrook said.
Steven Adams, however, played well in 21 minutes, chipping in 10 points and nine rebounds and Kendrick Perkins added six points and six rebounds in his eight minutes. Meanwhile, Anthony Morrow scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench for the Thunder.
Thunder Excited About Waiters Acquisition
Just as Monday night’s game was tipping off, news broke that the Thunder acquired Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters in a three-team trade. The fourth overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Syracuse product in his third NBA season has career averages of 14.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
The 6’4”, 225-pound combo guard followed up being named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team by averaging a career-high 15.9 points per game last year. After the game, Brooks and Westbrook both expressed their enthusiasm to have another aggressive, physical and talented guard on the roster.
“We’re excited to have him,” Brooks said. “He brings toughness, he brings versatility and he’s a scorer. We can’t wait to see him in the next few days.”
“He’s a great player,” Westbrook said. “He does a great job of attacking. He does a great job of getting his own shot as well.”
Stats of the Night
10 – Rebounds for Anthony Morrow, in addition to 17 points to lead the reserves, for his second double-double of the season
19-9 – The Thunder’s edge in second chance points on the night thanks to 20 offensive rebounds
29 – Combined minutes for Steven Adams
The Final Word
“We’re a defensive-minded team that didn’t come out with the defensive intensity it takes to guard a team like Golden State, and we gave up too many threes.” – Head Coach Scott Brooks