The Golden State Warriors secured a thrilling 116-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, showcasing resilience and determination after trailing by double digits.
The matchup featured Western Conference All-Star starters, Steph Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar 52-point performance, the Warriors responded with clutch plays and defensive stops to take the win.
The game started with a new lineup for the Warriors, which included rookie Quinten Post. The team struggled offensively after a strong defensive start, and the Thunder capitalized with a 15-4 run, building an early double-digit lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander was on fire, scoring 21 points in the first quarter as the Warriors trailed 34-20.
Curry, who had missed 13 consecutive shots, broke his drought early in the second quarter, injecting some life into the Warriors.
Despite falling back into a 14-point deficit, the Warriors fought back with an 8-0 run, powered by back-to-back threes from Andrew Wiggins and Dennis Schröder.
However, the Thunder pushed their lead back to double digits, and the Warriors faced a 58-48 deficit at halftime.
Gilgeous-Alexander outscored the Warriors starters 31-23 in the first half, leaving Golden State with much to improve in the second. But Curry came alive in the third quarter, sparking a Warriors resurgence.
After a momentum-shifting play where the Thunder failed to capitalize on multiple offensive rebounds, the Warriors went on a 21-6 run, eventually taking a five-point lead.
The Thunder fought back, retaking the lead, but the Warriors remained composed. Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody hit clutch layups, and Curry drained a three to start the final quarter.
The teams traded baskets, but the Warriors managed to win crucial minutes while Curry was on the bench. With Curry back on the court, the Warriors maintained a four-point lead with less than five minutes remaining.
With less than two minutes on the clock, Curry nailed a deep three, followed by a clutch three from Wiggins, giving the Warriors a seven-point lead.
A poster dunk by Gary Payton II capped off the thrilling victory, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The Warriors secured the win despite missing Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga. Curry finished with 21 points, while Wiggins led the team with 27.
After the victory, Curry spoke about his team's 'scrappy and gritty' nature.
With this victory, the Warriors moved back above .500 and handed the Thunder just their second loss to a team multiple times this season.
The Warriors will now enjoy a day off before facing the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
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