Golden State's Bench, Team Rebounding Effort Are Why Warriors Thumped the Thunder
By Jason McIntyre
Golden State has the best, deepest bench in the NBA, yet it was a pedestrian 6-of-16 shooting in the Game 1 loss to Oklahoma City. For what felt like the first time in an important game, the Warriors bench was outscored 21-16 in the stunning defeat.
In Game 2, the Warriors bench was dominant. Even though Andre Iguodala started 0-for-5 and was torched by Kevin Durant in the first half, this incredible shot late in the second quarter was pivotal to an offensive flurry that turned the game.
Oklahoma City grabbed its first and only lead of the game on a Dion Waiters corner 3-pointer late in the second quarter (47-46) but then Iguodala made three free throws, Festus Ezeli (12 points, five rebounds) scored, Klay Thompson made a three-pointer, Iguodala had a steal and the freaky layup, and then Iguodala scored again to flip the deficit into a 57-49 halftime lead.
Stephen Curry got hot in the 3rd quarter (17 points), but when the Warriors went to its bench in the 3rd quarter, they didn’t cave like they did in Game 1, when the Thunder outscored the Warriors 38-28.
Stat of the game:
Game 1 offensive rebounds: Thunder 10, Warriors 8
Game 2 offensive rebounds: Warriors 15, Thunder 7
Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut had 0 offensive rebounds combined in Game 1; they had three each in Game 2. A sense of urgency? The Warriors wanting – and needing – it more facing the prospect of an 0-2 deficit? Where was this effort in Game 1?
Game 3 is Sunday night at 8 pm.