Warriors get defensive in 117-91 win over Thunder
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Harrison Barnes scored a season-high 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors used a smothering defensive effort to rout the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-91 on Monday night.
Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry scored 19 points each as the NBA-best Warriors (27-5) bottled up Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. Golden State held Oklahoma City to just 30.6 percent shooting.
The Warriors' whipping denied the rejuvenated Thunder (17-18) a chance to move above .500 for the first time this season.
Westbrook scored 22 points, and Durant had 14 points and 10 rebounds on a night when everything seemed to be a struggle for Oklahoma City. The Warriors led by 20 at halftime and never let the Thunder get close after that.
Durant shot 3 of 16, and Westbrook finished 5 for 21 from the floor. And just in time, help is on the way for Oklahoma City's All-Star tandem.
The Thunder acquired shooting guard Dion Waiters from Cleveland in a three-team trade that was announced during the game. Oklahoma City sent the Cavaliers a protected 2015 first-round draft pick and moved reserve Lance Thomas to the New York Knicks.
The Warriors, meanwhile, continue to set the league pace regardless of whether they're at full strength.
They keep extending the best start in franchise history even with centers Andrew Bogut (right knee) and Festus Ezeli (left ankle) out, and that was apparent again despite going against an Oklahoma City team that had been surging since Westbrook and Durant returned from injuries.
With contributions from all over the roster, the Warriors stuffed the Thunder on one end and put up points at a blistering pace on the other.
Thompson made his first four shots and scored 13 points in the first 3 1/2 minutes, pleasing the white shirt-wearing sellout crowd of 19,596. But Thompson, Curry and Draymond Green all picked up two fouls and went to the bench before the end of the first quarter to stall the momentum.
At least for a little while.
Durant, who scored 30 points in the first half of a loss at Golden State on Dec. 18 before spraining his right ankle, missed his first seven shots. The rest of the Thunder struggled to sustain a rhythm as the small-ball Warriors switched every pick-and-roll and used their pace-and-space offense to pull away.
Golden State led 65-45 at halftime - with everybody from Curry and Thompson to Barnes and Justin Holiday coming up big - and never let the Thunder seriously threaten in the second half.
Green finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Holiday had 12 points for the Warriors, who shot 46.6 percent. Golden State has won four in a row.
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TIP-INS
Thunder: Durant was selected Western Conference player of the week for last week. ... The Thunder are 0-3 against the Warriors this season. The teams are scheduled to play one more time in Oklahoma City on Jan. 16.
Warriors: Golden State has won 12 consecutive home games and is 14-1 at Oracle Arena this season. ... Reserve forward Brandon Rush was sent home by team doctors before the game with flu-like symptoms.
UP NEXT
Thunder: At Sacramento on Wednesday.
Warriors: Host Indiana on Wednesday.
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