Tempers Flare In Warriors Blowout Win In OKC
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Klay Thompson scored 34 points to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-95 on Monday night in a heated matchup filled with trash talking, physical play and technical fouls.
It was Golden State's second visit to Oklahoma City since former Thunder star Kevin Durant signed a free agent contract with the rival Warriors last summer. Durant has been out since February with a left knee injury and sat on the bench with his team.
Even with Durant out, the negative energy from the first meeting was still there. Stephen Curry exchanged shoves with Oklahoma City's Semaj Christon just before halftime, and both were issued technical fouls. Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook and Golden State's Draymond Green also got technical for their roles in the skirmish.
The Warriors were overpowering in this one, leading by as many as 27 points while completing a sweep of the four-game season series.
Westbrook scored 47 points the last time the teams met in Oklahoma City. This time, he had 15 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
The Warriors took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Thunder 34-17 to go up 20 at the break.
Westbrook scored eight points in just over three minutes at the start of the third quarter to help the Thunder trim Golden State's lead to 12, but the Warriors bounced back and pushed their lead to 78-55 with just under five minutes left in the period. Westbrook didn't score again after his early third quarter surge.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Curry hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first half and ran down the tunnel to the locker room with the Warriors up 59-39. ... Green's technical was his 13th of the season. ... Matt Barnes was called for a flagrant foul in the third quarter.
Thunder: Westbrook's technical was his 15th of the season. He'll be suspended for a game if he gets another. ... It was the first loss for the Thunder with Taj Gibson as a starter.
UP NEXT
The Warriors play at Dallas on Tuesday night.
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