OAKLAND, Calif. _ For once, the compelling drama did not just center on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Instead, the Warriors secured a 112-80 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday by overcoming other tension-filled moments that could derail most teams. The Warriors (46-14) also avoided a regular-season sweep to any opponent since the 2013-14 season after losing twice to the Thunder (34-26) in the 2017-18 campaign.
Though the Warriors have arguably the best-shooting backcourt in NBA history, Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined to shoot 6 of 23 from 3-point range. Yet, Durant offset that with an efficient 28-point performance, while going 10 of 20 from the field, 4 of 6 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line.
Warriors forward Draymond Green picked up his 15th technical foul after arguing his block was clean on Oklahoma City forward Jerami Grant with 1:04 left in the second quarter. Yet, Green avoided getting tossed when he disliked getting called for a foul after blocking Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony and making contact with his head in the third quarter. Green's intensity also yielded 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
It appeared the Warriors would have a long a night against a Thunder team featuring Westbrook, Anthony and Paul George. But Westbrook had 15 points on 4-of-15 shooting after matching up with various defenders in Thompson and Nick Young. George had only five points on 1-of-14 shooting.
And though it labored with a slow start to open the second half, the Warriors saved their dominance toward the end. They went on a 30-10 run to close the third quarter, capped by Young's 3-pointer at the buzzer. That prompted Young, who finished with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting, to dance in front of the Thunder bench.
