The Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday were dominated by the Golden State Warriors 112-80
in a primetime showdown in Oakland, California. The series between the two rivals is now 2-1,
with OKC winning the first two times.
“For the first half, considering the way our offense was going, we did a good job of staying the
course,” head coach Billy Donovan said. “[We were] trying to be physical, trying to really grind
the game.”
The first half was back and forth, during the second half Golden State picked up momentum,
and having a home advantage, captured the win. Commentators said the intense atmosphere
felt like a playoff game.
“It was a struggle for us because we just couldn’t generate any points,” Donovan said.
The Warriors scored 32 points compared to OKC’s 21 points in the third quarter, and then 28-14
in the fourth.
Thunder forward Paul George said Golden State had a shooting rhythm in the third quarter,
giving them many opportunities. “If you get multiple looks at the basket, eventually shots are
going to go in,” he said. “They got hot, and that was the game.”
The first two games OKC had guard/forward Andre Roberson by their side. But Roberson
ruptured his patellar tendon following a nasty fall at a Detroit Pistons game in January. He had a
successful surgery days later, but has been out for the rest of the season.
“Sometimes you have nights like that where nothing falls. We’ll get ready for the next one,”
Russell Westbrook said.
The next matchup is Tuesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. in Oklahoma City. The game will be broadcast on
the TNT network.