The Golden State Warriors have put on a shooting clinic in Game 7 against Oklahoma City to book a spot in the NBA finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Down as many as 13 points in the second quarter of the series decider, Golden State aces Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both managed to find their range from the three-point line in the second quarter and second half, giving the Warriors a 96-88 win.
Oklahoma City will be disappointed they let both the lead in this game and the 3-1 lead in this series slip, but against the shooting of Thompson and Curry there really wasn’t much a tight OKC outfit could do about it.
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Thompson started the game 0-7 from the field, but responded in the best possible way to drain six three-pointers on his way to 21 points, while Curry was hot with 36 points including seven threes.
The Thunder dominated in the paint and off the pick and roll, but with Russell Westbrook struggling from the field with 7-21 and not many trips to the line, they simply couldn’t get the ball in the hands of Kevin Durant enough.
Durant finished with 27 points, and Westbrook 19 in a losing effort.
Aussie Andrew Bogut only got 15 minutes of time on the court, only managing two points and four rebounds.
The win completes a huge turnaround in the series, which OKC had three opportunities to win, including a game on home court, but they simply couldn’t capitalise despite going out to an early lead in Games 6 and 7.
In the end, it was all about the Warriors’ success from the three-point line, with a 45% success rate from beyond the arc too much of an advantage to overcome.
The win books the Warriors in for a second consecutive NBA finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who will be well-rested and fully fit, unlike last season.
OKC
Durant with 27 points (10/19 – 3/7), 3 assists, 7 rebounds
Westbrook with 19 points (7/21 – 2/6), 13 assists, 7 rebounds
Ibaka with 14 points (5/11 – 2/5), 4 rebounds
GSW
Curry with 36 points (13/24 – 7/12), 8 assists, 5 rebounds
Thompson with 21 points (7/19 – 6/11), 5 rebounds
Green with 11 points (5/14 – 1/5), 4 assists, 9 rebounds
FG
GSW: 37/85 (43%)
OKC: 34/89 (38%)
3PT
GSW: 17/37 (45%)
OKC: 7/27 (25%)
FT
GSW: 5/8 (62%)
OKC: 13/17 (76%)
REB
GSW: 46 (10)
OKC: 47 (14)
AST
GSW: 19
OKC: 20
STL
GSW: 4
OKC: 3
BLK
GSW: 4
OKC: 5
TOs
GSW: 11
OKC: 7
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