Teve Kerr admitted that he did not have flashbacks from watching Steph Curry or Klay Thompson score 3-pointers at Paycom Center on Monday night during the Warriors winning 128-120 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it was difficult not to be reminded of the past as the Splash Brothers shine against their old foes. S
The days of Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut facing against the likes Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams. They are Thunder remain young and entertaining and are building their next generation of superstars.
A rivalry that is not yet established could in the future spark a rivalry with Thunder stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams, as well as a well-balanced Lou Dort and after Chet Holmgren makes his NBA debut.
The Warriors, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Patrick Baldwin Jr., James Wiseman, Moses Moody and the other young Dubs may be the ones leading the charge. On Monday night, in OKC it was time to allow Steph along with Klay to bring rain for the Thunder again.
They combined for the score of 66 points. They took 53.7 percent on their shots, 50 % of the 28 three-pointers they made, and all eight free throws fell. Curry was the leader with 38 points for the game and was 12-for-20 from the field 8-for-14 in deep shooting and 6-for-6 from the line for free throws. Thompson added 28 points , as his overall shooting was 10-for-21 6 for 14 beyond the arc, and 2 for 2 in free throws.
The sharpshooters both set the tone right from the beginning.
Curry had 13 points to go with 13 in the opening quarter. He was a plus-18 plus/minus during the first quarter. The Warriors went into the second quarter ahead 38-20. Curry hit 5 of 7 shots, and 3 of 4 attempts from the long distances. Thompson was shooting shot-for-shot with him, scoring 10 points while being 4-for-5 in the field, and going 2-for-3 with threes.
“You must take on the whole 48 hours,” Steve Kerr said to reporters after winning. “The beginning that we had however, set the stage to the match. We had a fantastic first quarter, and they had to swim downstream for throughout the final three quarters. Although they came close but we were able to keep them at bay.”
In the first quarter in the first quarter, the Warriors took 15 shots, and all 15 shots were assisted. The first 18 shots they made were without assists. The streak came to an end with Jordan Poole dribbled past and around four players of the Thunder before completing an impressive finger roll.
A match after the Warriors gave out a season-high 40 assists during an upset against their opponents, the Toronto Raptors, they totaled 37 assists on Monday in a game against the Thunder. Curry on Friday handed out 11 assists. He then surpassed himself.
The duo of Draymond Green were the top two gamers with 12 assists each.
“Oh the first quarter was gorgeous,” Thompson said. “I believe that the ball was bobbing around.”
The second half of Curry’s 12 shots made were the most crucial. After scoring 18 , which was his lowest score in the opening half the forward scored 20 points in the second period. The one that had the most significance was his seventh shot of the game and a strong shot on the center.
He scored 7,217 field goals over the course of his career, which surpassed the legendary Wilt Chamberlain to be the highest number in Warriors team history.
“What an incredible feat,” Thompson said. “I think, Wilt Chamberlain is among the greatest athletes ever to be on earth. The reality that Steph was able to accomplish just one foot less than him is a feat in itself.”
The Warriors were able to draw assistance from a small group of players during the victory. Thompson was the player who scored the most points from the players that played in the fourth quarter having scored nine points. Thompson also added three successful shots with two free throws and a powerful dunk.
The Warriors ended January with a 7-6 mark. Thompson played in 10 of those 13 games and had his best month to date this season. Thompson scored 27 points per game with 45.9 percentage shooting. He also shot 43.1 percent from 3-pointers as well as 90.9 percent from free throws.
After recovering from his left shoulder injury in January. 10th, Curry put an exclamation to the month when the Warriors defeated the third consecutive game, and earned their first victory streak in the road this season. In the nine games this month, he scored 29.1 scores and 5.8 assists. He shot 47.8 percent on the court in addition to 40.8 percent from downtown.
The slow beginning to the month ended just about as great of a conclusion that Curry and his Warriors could have ever hoped for.
“Just extremely effortless playing the ball Running off the ball, off screens — and playing well in defense and rebounding” Kerr said of Curry. “He was swift to get to it and appeared great on the field.”
The rivalry between Warriors and Thunder is over at least for the moment. The nights filled with Steph and Klay playing their best are here to remain.
