52 from SGA Wasted as Warriors Rally to Beat Thunder!

Thunders vs Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — In a high-energy Western Conference showdown, the Golden State Warriors held off the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 116-109 on Wednesday night, despite a stellar 52-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Warriors Lean on Balanced Scoring to Secure Victory

Stephen Curry led the charge with 21 points, including a clutch deep three-pointer with 1:52 left in regulation. However, it was Andrew Wiggins who stole the spotlight with a team-high 27 points. Kevon Looney came off the bench to contribute 18 points, while Gary Payton II added 15 points and nine rebounds.

The Warriors relied on a well-rounded offensive effort to counteract the Thunder’s star guard, who was nearly unstoppable throughout the night.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s Dominant Performance Falls Short

Gilgeous-Alexander wasted no time making his presence felt, scoring 17 points in the first eight minutes and finishing with 21 in the opening quarter. He shot an efficient 16-of-29 from the field and converted 18-of-21 free throws. His 52-point outing was just two shy of his career-high, set against the Utah Jazz last week.

Despite his heroics, Oklahoma City struggled to find consistent secondary scoring, allowing the Warriors to capitalize down the stretch.

Curry Returns, Warriors Celebrate Olympic Gold

After missing Tuesday’s win over the Utah Jazz due to knee soreness, Curry returned to action, though he started slow, missing his first five shots before connecting in the second quarter. His leadership was on display late in the game as Golden State sealed the win.

Before tip-off, Curry, head coach Steve Kerr, and two Warriors staff members were honored by Grant Hill for their contributions to Team USA’s gold medal victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The pregame ceremony added an extra layer of excitement to an already electric night.

Takeaways from the Game

  • Thunder’s Recent Dominance in San Francisco Ends: Oklahoma City had won three straight games at Chase Center before this loss. Their last defeat in the Warriors’ home arena came on April 4, 2023.
  • Alex Caruso Injury: The Thunder suffered a setback when Alex Caruso sprained his left ankle.
  • Curry Climbs NBA Scoring List: Curry surpassed Ray Allen (24,505 points) to move into 27th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
  • Quinten Post’s First Start: Golden State’s two-way big man Quinten Post earned his first career start but struggled in limited action, logging no points, rebounds, or shots in eight minutes.

Key Moment

Gilgeous-Alexander fueled an Oklahoma City run late in the first half, scoring eight of the Thunder’s final 11 points and assisting on an Isaiah Joe three-pointer. The surge helped Oklahoma City take a 58-48 lead into halftime. However, the Warriors responded with a dominant second half to turn the tide.

Key Stat

Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein controlled the boards, grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds to give the Thunder extra possessions. Unfortunately for OKC, it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

What’s Next?

The Thunder will return home to face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, while the Warriors stay at Chase Center to take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Golden State’s balanced attack and veteran experience proved to be the difference in this thrilling matchup, reminding the league that they remain a formidable force in the Western Conference.

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