Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, left, shoots the ball over Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Kenrich Williams within the first half of an NBA basketball sport, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Oklahoma Metropolis. (AP Photograph/Kyle Phillips)
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Warriors’ reserves constructed their lead, nevertheless it was the same old suspects who held on to it for his or her ninth straight win, 110-98, Monday night time over the Thunder.
Klay Thompson nailed a pair of clutch 3-pointers within the closing 2 minutes to stem a late run by Oklahoma Metropolis and completed with a team-best 21 factors in his most enjoying time since getting back from harm.
On the night time Thompson’s minutes restriction rose to 30 per sport, coach Steve Kerr held again within the first half to make sure he’d have each Splash Brothers at his disposal within the closing moments. It paid off. Thompson and Steph Curry scored the Warriors’ closing 9 factors, after Oklahoma Metropolis used a 12-2 run to tug inside 5 factors.
“It was superior simply to have Klay again in crunch time, realizing the protection was going to be closely slanted towards Steph,” Kerr mentioned. “For Klay to get free and knock down a pair pictures was actually enjoyable to see.”
After trailing for nearly the complete first quarter, the Warriors used a 36-23 second quarter to tug forward for good, even when Kerr and Co. bought a scare on the finish.
Trailing 23-22 early within the second, Jordan Poole turned the nook round a Jonathan Kuminga display and located himself staring down an open lane. He bolted for the basket and threw the ball down with authority.
Poole growled. Kerr pumped his fist. The Thunder known as timeout. The tone for the remainder of the night time had been set, even when Oklahoma Metropolis briefly reclaimed the lead for just a few extra moments.
“What I cherished about that play is he had the ball earlier within the possession and bought the ball out of his arms rapidly and went up and set the display,” Kerr mentioned. “It was point-five basketball, all the pieces we attempt to preach each day.”
The Warriors’ second unit keyed their second-quarter run. It was Poole with the primary slam, however Kuminga’s pair of putback dunks will lead the spotlight reels.
The Warriors bought 46 factors off the bench, led by 16 from Kuminga and 11 from Poole, who additionally dished out eight assists (tying a profession excessive) and picked up eight rebounds.
Earlier than tipoff, Kerr was requested to guage the Thunder and mentioned they had been within the throes of a rebuild, an evaluation that requires no extra proof than their 17-36 document and second-to-last place within the Western Convention standings.
But, the younger and athletic Thunder by no means let Golden State get snug. After Thompson sunk a pair of free throws shortly after halftime to widen the Warriors’ result in 16, the Thunder prevented them from extending it any additional.
Thompson was coming off his finest sport since returning to the courtroom and simply acquired clearance to play as much as half-hour, nevertheless it took till after halftime for his first 3-pointer to fall Monday night time.
His closing two, although, had been the massive ones.
Oklahoma Metropolis had lower the Warriors’ result in 5 on a spinning drive and end by rookie sensation Josh Giddey when Thompson bought the ball on the high of the important thing on the next possession. He fired and held his comply with via whereas the ball fell via the online.
He adopted it with one other snipeshot with a hand in his face, formally placing the breaks on an Oklahoma Metropolis run that had trimmed a 14-point result in 5 within the span of 4 minutes.
Absent anyone participant assuming a starring function, the Warriors received with an ensemble of scoring. 5 gamers completed in double figures however nobody scored greater than Thompson’s 21. Andrew Wiggins paced the Warriors with 13 within the first half however added solely two after intermission.
Thompson was restricted to at least one 3 till the ultimate moments, after sinking seven in his final sport towards Sacramento. With 18 factors, Steph Curry was held beneath 20 for the 14th time this season but additionally dished out a game-high 10 assists and completed one rebound away from a triple double.
Regardless of that, Golden State scored 110 factors for its seventh straight contest and received its ninth in a row, its longest profitable streak of the season, with 5 extra winnable video games on faucet earlier than the All-Star break.