The combination of forward Kevin Durant, point guard Russell Westbrook and Hispanic Congolese power forward Serge Ibaka emerged as an unstoppable scoring force in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, which they beat the Warriors 133-105. from Golden State.
Durant contributed 33 points, including 23 in the first half, Westbrook had a double-double of 30 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, while Ibaka reached 14 touchdowns and captured eight balls under the basket.
The Thunder sentenced the game at halftime by leaving with a partial advantage of 72-47, an advantage that increased at the end of the third period (117-80).
Ibaka who played 32 minutes, scored 6 of 13 field goals, including 2 of 5 triples, did not go to the free throw line, but dominated the inside game by capturing six defensive rebounds, recovered two balls, lost one and made two blocks .
The great work of Ibaka in the defensive game allowed the Thunder to conclude the game with 52 rebounds to only 38 for the Warriors, who saw how the Australian center Andrew Bogut was charged in the first minutes of the game with two personal fouls that prevented him from be a help factor for the league champions the rest of the time by playing only 12 minutes.
As they had already shown in the previous two games, the Thunder have become a scoring machine and this time they managed to tie the best record in a playoff game.
The last time the Warriors played in Oklahoma City with point guard Stephen Curry leading the way, the league’s MVP scored 46 points, and tied the NBA’s best for 3-pointers with 12, including the one that gave his team the win. .
But none of that happened this time in the third game against the great defense they made with a double team in which Ibaka almost always participated.
Thunder rookie coach Bill Donovan has found that only consistent defensive pressure can stop the Warriors’ best shooters from outside the perimeter, and his approach has so far worked perfectly for him.
“I think the difference at the end of the game was that we played very physical basketball and we never stopped putting pressure on them,” Durant said after the game. “It was important for us to get back to winning the first game at home and to have the advantage in the series again.”
The Thunder, who had six players with double-digit numbers, including two defensemen, were always in control of the scoreboard and never gave the Warriors a chance to react.
As a team, Oklahoma City finished the game with a 50 (46-92) percent of success in field goals and 32 (8-25) of triples, compared to 41 (38-92) and 30 (10-33). ), respectively, from the Warriors, who for the first time in the tie lost control of their style of play.
Although Curry contributed 24 points, he did not have the best scoring inspiration, scoring 7 of 17 shots from the field, including only 3 of 11 three-point attempts, capturing five rebounds – all defensive –, giving three assists and recovering two balls.
While shooting guard Klay Thompson reached 18 points after scoring 8 of 19 field goals, and being the only two Warriors players who had double-digit numbers.
Center Draymond Green could not be a winning factor either, keeping six points (1-9, 0-2, 4-4), without having a presence in the inside game, he only captured four rebounds, and gave three assists.
While the reserves were just as cold as the starters in the offensive game and none of them could get double-digit numbers.
Brazilian shooting guard Leandro Barbosa played nine minutes and contributed five points by scoring 2 of 3 field goals, including the only triple he attempted.
While his compatriot, center Anderson Varejao, went out on the court for five minutes and grabbed a defensive rebound.
The fourth game of the series that the Thunder dominate 2-1 to the best of seven will be played next Tuesday on the same stage at the Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City.EFE
Thunder humiliate uninspired Warriors
