Golden Warriors vs City Thunder
Golden State Warriors Hold Off Oklahoma City Thunder in Thrilling Western Conference Clash
The Golden State Warriors secured a hard-fought 127-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, solidifying their position among the Western Conference’s top teams. Stephen Curry led the charge with a season-high 36 points, including seven three-pointers, as the Warriors improved to 8-2, tied with the Thunder and Phoenix Suns for the West’s best record.
Curry’s exceptional performance was complemented by Jonathan Kuminga’s 20 points off the bench and De’Anthony Melton’s 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Warriors’ bench played a crucial role in the win, outscoring the Thunder’s reserves 37-23.
Oklahoma City, meanwhile, suffered their second loss in three games following a 7-0 start. The Thunder’s starting center, Chet Holmgren, exited the game just over five minutes into the contest with a right hip injury and did not return.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 24 points, despite struggling with 6-of-17 shooting. Jalen Williams chipped in with 20 points, going 9-of-15 from the field.
The Warriors trailed 33-26 after the first quarter but regained control in the second, using a 10-2 run to open up a 58-49 lead. Kuminga tallied 12 points in the second quarter, helping Golden State take a 65-58 advantage into halftime.
Curry took center stage in the third quarter, scoring 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The Warriors outscored the Thunder 42-21 in the frame, establishing a commanding 107-79 lead entering the fourth.
Oklahoma City mounted a late comeback, putting together an 18-4 spurt to cut the deficit to 114-108 with under five minutes remaining. However, Kuminga’s alley-oop dunk and Curry’s subsequent three-pointer with 3:23 remaining thwarted the Thunder’s threat.
In other Western Conference action, the Sacramento Kings halted the Phoenix Suns’ seven-game winning streak with a thrilling 127-118 overtime victory. DeMar DeRozan poured in a season-high 34 points, including eight in overtime, to lead the Kings.
De’Aaron Fox added 21 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, while Domantas Sabonis contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds. Keegan Murray chipped in with 14 points and 14 boards.
The Suns, playing without Kevin Durant due to a strained calf, lost another key starter when Jusuf Nurkic sat out the second half and overtime due to ankle soreness. Tyus Jones stepped up with 22 points, complementing Bradley Beal’s 28 points and eight rebounds, and Devin Booker’s 23 points and 12 assists.
Phoenix appeared poised for another win, taking a 92-81 lead with 8:58 left in regulation. However, the Kings rallied with a 7-1 run, capped by Murray’s three-pointer, to pull within 105-104 with two minutes remaining.
Murray’s tip-in with four seconds left gave the Kings a 111-110 edge, but Booker tied the game with a free throw, forcing overtime. DeRozan dominated the extra period, scoring the first eight points of a 10-1 Sacramento run, securing a 121-114 lead with 2.5 minutes remaining.
The Kings’ victory marked their sixth win in eight games following an 0-2 start, while the Suns suffered their first loss since Durant’s injury.
