The Warriors did not miss their last meeting of the regular season at the Chase Center. The defending champions, who are traveling so badly this season, won their 33rd and last victory on their land by repelling the Thunder (136-125). Hardly, because the visitors were in front during the first three quarters.
The Californians, deprived of Klay Thompson (back), had to wait until the last quarter to pass, showing a little more serious defensiveness, while continuing to bombard from 3-pointers to secure a victory more wider than imagined. After their narrow defeat in Denver two days earlier, the Warriors are still in 5th place in the Western Conference, directly qualifying for the playoffs.
The Thunder, on the other hand, which still had a balanced balance sheet two weeks ago, is experiencing unwelcome turbulence. This defeat is the third in a row, the sixth in eight games. Luckily for them, Dallas isn’t in better shape, which allows them to hold on to 10th place in the conference for the time being.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A turning point in the last quarter. When Jordan Poole equalized with a long distance missile ten minutes from the end (108-108), then followed up with two free throws, the Californians took the lead for the first time in this game. A few minutes later, Stephen Curry also went there with his award-winning basket until this incident which contributed to breaking the dynamic of the Thunder: the referees did not see that Jalen Williams wanted to return six minutes from the end. Furious, Mark Daigneault obviously received a technical foul and his team found itself relegated to two possessions (121-115). The local team then rushed into the breach to fly to the score against a Thunder who had suddenly lost his spirit.
– defensive reaction. 39 points conceded in the first quarter, then 40 in the second. You are not dreaming: without reaction after the break (69-79), the Warriors were on the basis of… 160 points conceded. That didn’t happen as the Warriors, too lax in their home defense as well as their coverage behind the 3-point line in the first, finally upped their game on defense. Like an omnipresent Draymond Green who signed several important interceptions in the last minutes.
– Andrew Wiggins hailed. The Chase Center audience gave the winger a standing ovation as he returned to the bench for the Warriors in civilian clothes. He who has not played since mid-February held a press conference to discuss his absence due to family difficulties. The former Wolves player must now recover his physical health before he can return to the courts.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Draymond Green – Donte DiVincenzo. Two essential cogs in the collective performance of the Warriors. Obviously for the first who offered his 12th double-double of the year. The second, who came off the bench for the first time since mid-February, signed a new very complete match, ending on a +28 +/-.
✅ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Fourth game in a row – and 45th of his season – at 30 points or more for “SGA” who was one of the few players on his team capable of scoring in the last moments.
⛔✅ Jordan Poole. Three complicated first quarters with 12 points at 3/10 shooting, 3 assists but 4 ball losses. He saves his match with a last quarter at 18 points to relieve Stephen Curry.
THE FOLLOWING
Warriors (42-38) : traveling to Sacramento on Friday.
Thunder (38-42) : trip to Utah on Thursday.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
