The Oklahoma City Thunder rallied and defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had every opportunity to quit in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, but they continued to keep battling.
Just like many Warriors games this season, the Warriors jumped out to a decent lead after the first quarter with Harrison Barnes hitting some huge shots. The Warriors would hold a six-point advantage.
At the start of the second, Golden State would quickly work their way into a double-digit lead. However, the Thunder weren’t going to let them run away with it and fought their way back into it.
Toward the end of the second quarter, the Warriors would build their lead back up and there was plenty of emotion in the building, as Stephen Curry hit a three at the buzzer.
In the third quarter, the Warriors would build their lead to 14 and then the Thunder would fight their hardest to close out the quarter strong and pull within a few points.
At the start of the fourth, the Thunder went on the run and they would finally take their lead. They would build their lead up to eight, after Steven Adams made another huge shot in the post.
A Curry three and Draymond Green layup would pull Golden State within three. With a little over a minute to go, the Thunder held a one-point lead. Two free throws by Adams and a Kevin Durant jumper would put the Thunder up by five.
Andre Iguodala would pull them within three, but Russell Westbrook would hit a free throw to put the Thunder up four with 14 seconds remaining. It looked like Westbrook had gotten away with a travel, but it wasn’t called and the Thunder got a timeout.
The Warriors would hit their next shot, Westbrook would hit some more free throws and the Thunder would steal Game 1 on the road.
Full Highlights
defpensports: Westbrook travel. TNT Inside the NBA https://t.co/2ii059nC5d pic.twitter.com/6bPZm7zkg8
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
And the drought is over... https://t.co/ldSlgAbkYO
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 17, 2016
gameontech: Waiters hits a contested 3 TNT NBA Playoff: Game 1: Thunder at Warriors https://t.co/Z4ZPX3Z06D pic.twitter.com/kDpcCpmta0
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
sonofthebronx: Steph Curry hits this incredible 3-pointer to give Golden… TNT NBA Playoff: … https://t.co/6z7YNnd7Ye pic.twitter.com/bZ5yZAo9wW
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
rpmsports18: Rise and fire. TNT NBA Playoff: Game 1: Thunder at Warriors https://t.co/Qjie2XD7PT pic.twitter.com/AYZRpCBLgZ
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
gameontech: Westbrook launches a quick 3 TNT NBA Playoff: Game 1: Thunder at Warriors https://t.co/DU0rFl7HRG pic.twitter.com/LUARchsAgX
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
theledgesports: Steph Curry at the buzzer. Yawnnnn. #WarriorsVSThunder TNT NBA Playoff: Gam… https://t.co/7m8EprJBXn pic.twitter.com/dqZife8ILm
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
bballsociety_: Great sequence of blocking demonstrated here. TNT NBA Playoff: Game 1: Thund… https://t.co/8hCJQksfKH pic.twitter.com/p2EJvFUSmT
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
jordanowx: Ibaka TNT NBA Playoff: Game 1: Thunder at Warriors https://t.co/AJGLnz6DC3 pic.twitter.com/0nIyNP37sp
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
gameontech: Thompson gets the step and scores TNT NBA Playoff: Game 1: Thunder at Warriors https://t.co/fU8eSxH8ZI pic.twitter.com/RXHmRAu5Nu
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) May 17, 2016
Three Stars
3. Stephen Curry
Curry would have a huge night for the Warriors in their loss. Unfortunately, no one else could match his shooting. He finished with 25 points.
2. Kevin Durant
After going in a bit of a shooting drought, he hit the huge shot late to extend the Thunder’s lead.
1. Russell Westbrook
Westbrook shook off a bad first half to lead the way in the second half and hit shot after shot in the win.
Betting Odds
The Warriors came into the game as 7.5-point favorites. With the close loss, they did not cover the spread.
What’s Next?
The two teams will meet in Game 2 in Oakland on Wednesday night.
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