OKLAHOMA CITY _ A powerful Kevin Durant drive was met by a hard Andre Roberson foul. Durant landed, turned and barked at Roberson. Then Roberson _ so close to Durant off the court the past two years _ got right in his former teammate's face. They exchanged a headbutt, a slight shove and some choice words.
A day of tension, in an arena full of emotion, had its hottest boiling point. In Durant's hostile Oklahoma City homecoming, the Warriors' big talent edge led them to a rather easy win: 130-114. But the relative lack of competitive drama didn't mean a lack of drama.
Durant strolled through the unfamiliar visitor's tunnel about 90 minutes before tip on Saturday night. He walked through a packed, awaiting crowd, headphones on, drowning out the boos as he walked past a little girl dressed in a cupcake costume, a nod to Russell Westbrook's not-so-subtle summer Instagram shot at Durant, hinting that the free agency move was soft.
Durant was booed loudly in pregame introductions and just as loudly every time he touched the ball in isolation. And he'd have it plenty. Steve Kerr set up the first Warriors possession for Durant. He nailed a 17-foot fadeaway.
The Thunder, though, jumped out to the early lead, channeling the crowd's raucous energy into a strong start as the Warriors missed their first six 3s. Westbrook was subbed out late in the first quarter with the game tied. By the time he returned, the Warriors led by double digits, thanks to a lopsided stretch by Golden State's second unit that provided the game's separation.
From there, with the Warriors comfortably ahead throughout, the game morphed into a series of mini-dramas on sport's biggest stage.
Westbrook got Durant in isolation midway through the second quarter. The crowd recognized it and erupted. Durant couldn't contain a wry smile. Westbrook missed a fadeaway.
The two would meet up later in the game and it was a bit more contentious. After one of the Thunder's mini runs, cutting the deficit from above 20 to slightly below, Steve Kerr called timeout. As Westbrook and Durant separated to the opposing benches, Westbrook yelled at Durant: "I'm coming! I'm coming!"
Durant shrugged as he walked backward, telling Westbrook: "You're gonna lose." It was their longest, most direct contact since Durant left his former teammate and only NBA organization last July 4.
But this night, in many ways, was about the city meeting Durant for the first time, not the team who'd already gone face to face with him twice in Oakland.
The crowd came armed with cupcake signs and unloaded cupcake chants relentlessly, the first and loudest coming midway through the second quarter. Moments later, Durant was fouled and strolled to the free throw line. The crowd rained down the boos. But as they did, 10 rows up in Section 116, Durant's mother Wanda rose, her left hand on her heart and her right hand in the air.
It was the most poignant sign of Durant's spattering of support throughout an arena so loudly against him. More came later.
After Durant's physical dust-up with Roberson, the teams dispersed to their benches while the referees reviewed the play. As they did, a fan near the Warriors' bench _ wearing a 'KowarD' shirt with a cupcake on the back _ got in a shouting match with Draymond Green. Some security guards were forced to get involved.
The fan _ Big Rich Taylor, the same guy who went viral when he taped himself planting a 'For Sale: Coward' sign outside Durant's house on July 4 _ pointed at Durant and yelled as the rest of the Warriors surrounded. Steve Kerr stepped in to diffuse the situation, telling the fan to calm down: "You've been on him all night."
Durant and the Warriors also did plenty of talking on the court. Durant had a team-high 34 points, capping a 73-50 first half with a crushing dunk and closing his night with a barrage of jumpers and smooth drives. The fans, frustrated, were resorted to one final cupcake chant as Durant completed his national TV postgame interview, victorious in his emotional return.
Westbrook finished with a game-high 47 points on 14-of-26 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds and eight assists, but he turned the ball over 11 times.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson each added 26 points for the Warriors.
