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 As the deal was being finalized, they took the court and
demonstrated why they needed it.
The Golden State Warriors harassed Oklahoma City stars Kevin Durant
and Russell Westbrook into 8-for-37 shooting en route to their third
consecutive win over the Thunder, 117-91.
The win gives the Warriors (27-5) an 11 1/2-game cushion over the
perennially strong Thunder (17-18) in the Western Conference
standings as the clubs approach the midpoint of the season.
Oklahoma City will have the services of shooting guard Dion Waiters
for the final 47 games of their season. The offensive sparkplug was
acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal that cost
the Thunder a protected first-round pick and reserve forward Lance
Thomas.
The New York Knicks were the third team involved in the deal.
"We're excited to get Dion," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said after
the game. "He brings confidence, versatility, scoring ... He's going
to help us."
 The cold-shooting Thunder would have needed a lot more than Waiters
on this night to prevent the Warriors from clinching the season
series.
Shooting guard Klay Thompson did all the Golden State scoring in an
early 13-2 flurry that gave the Warriors a lead they never
relinquished en route to their 12th consecutive home victory.
"We are all confident. It's a very positive mood here," said
Warriors reserve guard Justin Holiday, who contributed 12 points to
the win. "It's always fun when you're winning."
The Warriors converted 15 3-pointers and shot 46.6 percent overall,
but their defense was as responsible as anything for the fourth
consecutive win to start their current six-game homestand.
Durant, who scorched the Warriors for 30 points in the first half of
a Dec. 18 matchup before injuring his ankle, missed his first seven
shots this time and went just 3-for-16. Thanks in part to 7-of-11
foul shooting, he finished with 14 points to go with 10 rebounds.
Westbrook led the Thunder with 22 points, but it took him 21 shots
to get there. He misfired 16 times, and like Durant, he did much of
his scoring from the free-throw line (11-for-14).
"They played great defense," Brooks said of the Warriors. "They made
us not play well. They're the best team in basketball. They're a
great team."
Small forward Harrison Barnes was a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point
range and totaled 23 points for the Warriors, who have a 25-point
average margin of victory in the four wins on the homestand.
"A lot of that is my teammates. They found me in great spots,"
Barnes said. "I have not been shooting well. It felt good to make
shots today."
Point guard Stephen Curry contributed 19 points, nine rebounds, six
assists and four steals to the win, connecting on his 999th career
3-pointer along the way.
Thompson (3-for-5) and power forward Draymond Green (3-for-7) added
to the Warriors' 3-point barrage. Golden State outscored the Thunder
45-15 from beyond the arc.
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Thompson finished with 19 points, while Green contributed 11 points
and a game-high 13 rebounds.
"We're in a good groove," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "The
biggest thing is we're taking care of the ball. If we do that and
defend like we have all year, it's going to be hard for teams to
come into this building and beat us. It's a good formula."
Backup swingman Anthony Morrow had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the
Thunder, who were attempting to go over .500 for the first time this
season. Oklahoma City caps a three-night, two-game Northern
California swing Wednesday night in Sacramento.
Waiters is expected to join the Thunder in Sacramento, but the trade
must be formally approved by the NBA before he is able to play.
"He's a great player," Westbrook said of Waiters. "He does a great
job of attacking. He does a great job of getting his own shots."
Oklahoma City shot 30.6 percent overall and 5-for-28 (17.9 percent)
on threes in losing for just the sixth time in 20 games.
Durant (2-for-11) and Westbrook (4-for-14) shot poorly in the first
half, which ended with the Warriors up 65-45. Barnes scored 15
points before the break.
The Thunder was never closer than 14 in the second half.
NOTES: PF Lance Thomas, the only player the Thunder gave up in its
three-team trade with Cleveland and New York, was in Oakland on
Monday night but inactive for the game. The fourth-year pro out of
Duke averaged 5.1 points and 3.4 rebounds for the Thunder this
season. ... Oklahoma City SF Kevin Durant scored at least 20 points
against the Warriors in 24 consecutive games before falling short
Monday. ... The last time the Warriors won a season series from the
Thunder (2007-08), the Oklahoma City franchise was known as the
Seattle SuperSonics. ... Warriors PG Stephen Curry moved within one
3-pointer of becoming the fastest player in NBA history to reach the
milestone. Curry has played 368 games; Dennis Scott currently holds
the distinction at 457 games. ... The last Warrior to go 5-for-5 or
better on 3-pointers before SF Harrison Barnes did it Monday night
was SG Anthony Morrow, who witnessed Barnes' feat firsthand as a
member of the Thunder.
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