Trusted veterans lead Warriors past Thunder for best win of season

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Trusted veterans lead Warriors past Thunder for best win of season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – A half hour prior to Wednesday’s tip-off, it was announced Warriors rookie Quinten Post would make his first NBA start. Soon after, it was clear the game wasn’t going to be about the rookie.

The Warriors’ 116-109 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder was all about coach Steve Kerr’s trusted veterans. Those he has seen contribute to a championship on the biggest stage, and the same players whose names have been in plenty of rumors a week ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

Steph Curry surged in the second half for 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting, all makes and attempts from behind the 3-point line, after being bottled up for four points on 1-of-7 shooting and missing his two 3-point attempts in the first half. Draymond Green was subjected to bringing energy on the bench as he nurses a calf injury, and Klay Thompson no longer wears Warriors colors.

Remember the run Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II went on in the 2022 NBA playoffs? That’s what transpired against the Thunder on the Warriors’ home floor.

“These guys have been here so long. I trust them,” Kerr said of the three veterans above. “It’s just I think a continuity and a familiarity that I have with them and vice versa. When we get that kind of performance collectively from that number of players, that’s what it takes. It’s kind of what the league is about these days.

“It’s about depth. It doesn’t feel like anymore it’s about having three superstars. It’s more about how many really good players can you put out there, and can they collectively do it. That’s what happened tonight.”

Wiggins, Looney and Payton combined to score 60 points. They had the best plus/minus on the team, and collectively went 15 of 17 from the free-throw line.

As Curry struggled to get free of Oklahoma City’s corralling defense in the first half, Wiggins’ offense was ever important. Wiggins the first half scored 15 points while the rest of the starting five tallied a total of eight points. His 27 points were a team…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/trusted-veterans-lead-warriors-past-000103701.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-01-30 00:01:00

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