(SportsNetwork.com) – The Golden State Warriors will take a four-game winning
streak into a five-game road trip, starting Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy
Arena against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Warriors defeated the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers
and Utah Jazz during this run. The Lakers’ victory was on the road, where the
Warriors are 4-1 this season with wins over the Sacramento Kings, Portland
Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets.
On Friday, the Warriors squashed the Jazz, 101-88, at Oracle Arena.
Andre Iguodala scored 17 points and Harrison Barnes recorded a double-double
of 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead a balanced Warriors offensive attack.
“Andre was great … We knew it was coming, Andre has dominated our scrimmages
from the beginning of training camp,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Even with Stephen Curry netting only eight points, the Warriors led by as many
as 30 in the wire-to-wire victory. Curry was more the facilitator than the
shot maker, doling out 10 assists for Golden State’s offensive explosion.
Klay Thompson finished with 14 points, Andrew Bogut scored 12 and Draymond
Green filled the box score with 11 points, nine boards and five assists.
The Warriors led by 15 after one quarter, 22 at the half and 28 after three
quarters. Golden State dropped the final 12 minutes by 15 points, but, by that
point, the game was in hand.
The Warriors, who are 9-2 for the first time since the 1972-73 season, will
visit the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Hornets and Detroit Pistons on this
odyssey.
The Thunder dropped their fifth straight on Friday night thanks to a two-point
home loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Reggie Jackson’s last-second 3-pointer rimmed out, and the Nets survived with
a 94-92 win over the Thunder. It was Oklahoma City’s third consecutive home
setback.
Brooklyn trailed by 10 late in the third quarter, but a 12-0 run that extended
into the fourth made it a 76-74 game. A 10-0 run later in the fourth gave the
Nets a seven-point lead, but Jackson and the Thunder mounted a final rally.
Jackson scored six of Oklahoma City’s last nine points, with Anthony Morrow
supplying the other three on a triple with just under two minutes to play.
Jackson’s layup with 5.5 seconds left made it 93-92, and Joe Johnson split a
pair of free throws at the other end.
Out of a timeout, Jackson isolated at the top of the key and pulled the
trigger, only to have his potential game-winner fall out. Kevin Garnett
secured the rebound, and the game.
“I thought he could have had an opportunity to drive, but he did get a good
look,” OKC coach Scott Brooks said.
Jackson’s 21 points and eight assists weren’t enough for OKC. Serge Ibaka
registered a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Morrow
chipped in 11 and Steven Adams added 10.
The Thunder will host the Jazz and New York Knicks on this stay.
OKC took two of three against the Warriors last season and are 9-2 in their
last 11 against Golden State. The Thunder have won 10 straight at home versus
the Warriors, whose only victory in Oklahoma City came on Dec. 8, 2008, their
first trip to OKC.
