San Francisco witnessed an intense basketball matchup as the Golden State Warriors triumphed over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 116-109 on Wednesday. The game featured stellar performances, notably from Stephen Curry, who sank a crucial long-range 3-pointer with just 1:52 remaining in the game. Curry finished the night contributing 21 points to the team’s success, while Andrew Wiggins shone brightly with a remarkable 27 points.
On the opposing side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with an impressive 52 points, just shy of his career-best that he set against the Utah Jazz the previous week. His scoring prowess was on full display early on, as he netted 17 points within the first 8 minutes and 10 seconds, accounting for 21 out of his team’s initial 34 points in the first quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander displayed an effective shooting touch, going 16 for 29 from the field and converting 18 of his 21 free throw attempts.
Curry had been resting due to knee issues and missed the previous game against the Jazz. However, he struggled initially, missing his first five attempts before finally making his mark with a shot at 10:46 into the second quarter. Kevon Looney was a valuable contributor off the bench, scoring 18 points, while Gary Payton II added 15 points along with nine rebounds.
In a pregame ceremony, Grant Hill presented championship rings to Curry, coach Steve Kerr, and two members of the Warriors’ staff, commemorating their Olympic gold medal victory in Paris last summer.
Noteworthy takeaways from the game include the fact that Oklahoma City had previously won three consecutive games at the Warriors’ home venue, having last lost there on April 4, 2023, with a score of 136-125. In a less fortunate turn of events for the Thunder, player Alex Caruso sprained his left ankle during the match.
For the Warriors, Curry made history by passing Ray Allen on the all-time scoring list, moving into 27th place with a total of 24,505 points. Additionally, Quinten Post, a two-way big man, earned his inaugural start in just his ninth NBA appearance, though he faced challenges, finishing the first half with no points, rebounds, or shots in eight minutes, alongside three fouls.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred late in the first half when Gilgeous-Alexander scored five consecutive points and assisted Isaiah Joe on a crucial 3-pointer, leading the Thunder to a 58-48 advantage at halftime. One of the key statistics from the night highlighted Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein, who managed to pull down a whopping 18 rebounds.
Looking ahead, the Thunder will return home to face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, while the Warriors will prepare to take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
