Thunder
one win from Finals after Game 4 blowout
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[May 25, 2016]
(The Sports Xchange) - The
Oklahoma City Thunder moved within one victory of the NBA Finals
after beating the Golden State Warriors 118-94 in Game Four on
Tuesday.
Russell Westbrook collected 36 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds
as Oklahoma City grabbed a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference
finals, thanks in large part to Westbrook's first triple-double of
the postseason.
Defending champions Golden State will attempt to stay alive on
Thursday at home in Game 5.
Thunder forward Kevin Durant scored 26 points on 8-of-24 shooting to
go with 11 rebounds. Serge Ibaka and Andre Roberson each scored 17
points, while Steven Adams posted 11 points and seven boards.
Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 26 points. League MVP Stephen
Curry was held to 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting, and he and Thompson
combined to make just six of 21 3-point attempts. Harrison Barnes
posted 11 points in the loss.
The Warriors lost back-to-back games for the first time in the
postseason after never losing consecutive games in the regular
season during their record-setting, 73-win campaign. They fell by a
combined 52 points over the two games in Chesapeake Energy Arena.
 Durant came out of the blocks on the attack. Instead of settling for
jump shots and 3-pointers, he started the night driving the ball to
the rim and forcing the Warriors to foul him.
Durant and Westbrook were a combined 12-for-12 from the line in the
first half. As a team, the Warriors only attempted 17 free throws in
the opening two quarters.
The Warriors, who fell behind by 14, got back into the game without
their superstars leading the way. It was the play of Barnes and
Festus Ezeli that helped Golden State close the gap to two midway
through the second quarter.
However, the Thunder kept pounding the boards and winning the hustle
points. That included Adams getting to a loose ball outside the
3-point arc and firing a fastball pass to Roberson under the goal
for a layup.
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Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and guard Cameron Payne (left)
celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Golden State
Warriors in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA
Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin
Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The play was indicative of the type of night Oklahoma City was
having as the Thunder raced out to a 72-53 halftime advantage.
The 19-point lead did not last long as Thompson began to tear apart
the Thunder defense. After scoring just four points in the first
half, he broke loose for 19 points in the third quarter and helped
slice the lead down to seven.
Once again, though, Oklahoma City ended the quarter strong to take
12-point advantage. That would be as close as Golden State would
get.
For the second game in a row, the Thunder did not let up and went
for the kill in the fourth. The Warriors had no answer and pulled
their starters with 3:15 left.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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