Ruthless Shai Gilgeous-Alexander avoids sacking Warriors
Despite the nine points of sharp Brandin Podziemski (17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) during the first six minutes of the match, the Thunder controlled the rest (22-15). OKC’s “Big Three” scores 24 of their team’s 32 points, and they need 3/3 from distance from Buddy Hield (13 points) off the bench to hold off the Warriors (32-26).
The awakening of Jimmy Butler and the entry of Seth Curry (14 points), who just signed, energize the Chase center, but Jaylen Williams (22 points, 6 assists), Ajay Mitchell (10 points) and Aaron Wiggins (11 points) respond with 16-5 and put the Thunder at +13 (50-37). OKC’s defense is putting the Warriors on fire, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making them pay on the other end. On break, the current champion +19 (63-44)!
The Warriors are back in the game
While Jimmy Butler stayed in the locker room at halftime due to a sore left ankle, the deficit reached +22 (69-47). Then we head to an easy win for the Thunder, but the Warriors don’t give up.
Their zone defense and defensive intensity caused eight OKC turnovers and their offense found a rhythm. Draymond Green (13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists), Gary Payton II (13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) and Jonathan Cummings wake up, but the trio of Seth Curry – Pat Spencer – Buddy Hield allows Golden State to go 35-14 over its opponent to continue the match (3-82) (8!
SGA then immediately took charge, scoring 7 of the Thunder’s final 10 points in the third quarter, but Podziemski’s one-handed 3-pointer at the buzzer kept the Warriors’ energy alive (91-88).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes into MVP mode
Seth Curry’s three-pointer puts these two teams behind, and Gary Payton II’s second one gives the Warriors their first advantage since the first minutes of the match, while the last Draymond Green throws the Chase Center (103-99). The return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reinvigorates OKC, but it’s Pat Spencer (17 points, 6 assists), Golden State’s third-leading scorer, who holds the MVP award.
After Chet Holmgren (21 points, 8 rebounds), SGA is the one taking the time. He scores five points and gives two assists to lead his team to 15-4 (114-107)! Draymond Green tries to spark the final comeback for Golden State, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams allow the Thunder to narrowly escape and seek their 13th straight victory.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Losses of the ball in the X factor. In a first half dominated by the Thunder, the Warriors lost 11 turnovers against the tentacles of OKC’s defense. Mark Daign’s men took advantage of these turnovers to score 16 points and take a 22-point lead. Everything turned around afterwards. Stuck in Golden State’s 2-3 zone, the Thunder lost 9 turnovers in the first 16 minutes of the second half, giving the Warriors 15 points. The Dubs then went from -22 to +4, before running out of juice in front of the decisive SGA.
– La promenade de Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 38 points on 13/21 shooting, and no turnovers. MVP did what he wanted on Golden State’s defense. Like a metronome, he scored 10 points in the first quarter, 8 in the second, 13 in the third to limit the damage and 7 in the final five minutes to kill the game. Whether it was Moses Moody, Gary Payton II or Jonathan Cummings, no Warrior could make life difficult for MVP. He found the footage he wanted when he wanted it. And that came at key moments to avoid a second defeat. SGA put their team on their backs, refusing to let the game slip away.
– Golden State’s bench almost created a stalemate. While they could have pulled away, as they did in Oklahoma City in early November, the Warriors fought like hell to get back into the game, without Stephen Curry or Jimmy Butler in the second half, and come close to winning. Pat Spencer, Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield all topped the ten-point mark, but the award goes to Seth Curry. For his first game of the season with the Warriors, Stephen’s brother scored 14 points in 18 minutes on 6/7 shooting!
2025-12-03 06:48:00
