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 The Warriors' second win over the Thunder in six days was their 44th
in a row at Oracle Arena, allowing them to match the record set by
the Chicago Bulls from March 30, 1995, to April 4, 1996.
The win also capped a three-game, season-series sweep for the
Warriors (55-5) over the Thunder (42-20). Those games included a
121-118 Warriors win in overtime at Oklahoma City on Saturday.
As was the case last week, the Thunder held a fourth-quarter lead
before the Warriors, who have recorded the best record in NBA
history through 59 games, rallied.
The Warriors, who trailed by as many as nine in the third quarter
and were down 83-82 entering the final period, took the lead for
good on backup guard Shaun Livingston's two free throws in the first
minute of the final quarter.
The advantage was just 99-97 before Draymond Green scored from the
interior with 5:47 left, triggering the game-breaking, 10-0 run.
Curry's key play came after backcourt mate Klay Thompson had
misfired on a 3-point attempt.
The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player grabbed the rebound, circled
back to the top of the key before changing directions and using an
Andrew Bogut screen to get to the rim for a layup on which he was
fouled.
His successful free throw completed the three-point play, pushing
the Golden State lead to 106-97 and setting the stage for a runaway
finish.
Curry finished with a game-high 33 points for the Warriors, who have
won seven in a row. Almost half his points came on five 3-pointers,
although it took him 15 attempts to get them.
Thompson added 21 points on 10-for-19 shooting, and Green
contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to Golden
State's fifth consecutive home win over the Thunder.
Kevin Durant had 32 points and Russell Westbrook 22 for the Thunder,
but each had more than his usual fair share of problems.
Durant, who also found time for 10 rebounds and nine assists,
committed nine turnovers.
Westbrook, meanwhile, hit only eight of his 24 shots, including one
of eight from 3-point range.
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Serge Ibaka added 20 points for the Thunder, who were playing their
second game in two nights.
The loss was the sixth in its past eight games for Oklahoma City,
which blew a 22-point lead in their Wednesday defeat against the Los
Angeles Clippers.
The Warriors trailed 80-71 with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter
before beginning a comeback by holding the Thunder to three points
the rest of the period to get within 83-82.
Golden State then opened the fourth quarter with 13 points on its
first six possessions to pull into a 95-87 lead. Backup center
Marreese Speights had a 3-pointer in the run.
A three-point play by Westbrook at the 6:02 mark got the Thunder
back within 99-97, before Golden State took command for good with
its decisive spurt.
After a first half that featured 13 lead changes and 13 ties, the
Thunder surged to its biggest lead of the game -- 80-71 -- on the
strength of two third-quarter runs.
Ibaka had a hand in each.
He broke a 63-all tie with a pair of hoops, igniting a 7-2 burst
that opened a 70-65 advantage with 7:48 remaining in the period.
After Golden State closed within one, the Thunder countered
immediately with a 10-2 flurry, this one capped by an Ibaka
3-pointer that produced a nine-point lead at the 4:52 mark.
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