CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA, OK — This is a continuation of the halftime recap of the Golden State Warriors at the Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 4 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals.
The Thunder held a 72-53 lead at halftime.
3rd Quarter – Klay Heats Up
The Warriors looked like their normal selves out of the gate as Andrew Bogut tipped in a miss by Draymond Green, but Klay Thompson took a rushed shot…
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But Klay came back and blocked a shot by Andre Roberson, only to have Harrison Barnes blocked by Serge Ibaka.
With 9:35 remaining, Kevin Durant missed a shot badly too hard, but the ball caromed right back to his long arms and he swished the catch of the rebound to go up, 74-57.
After Stephen Curry got called for a foul on a Russell Westbrook drive, Curry got a steal of an entry pass and found Thompson for a triple.
Golden State tightened their defense, Westbrook missed, and Klay took a dribble step-back behind the left arc over Durant, and OKC head coach Billy Donovan called a twenty-second timeout as the Warriors trimmed the OKC lead to 76-65 with 7:56 remaining.
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Klay stayed hot out of the timeout, hitting another triple from the left wing…
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…then getting past Roberson for a shot that trickled in, which closed the Warriors’ deficit to 78-70.
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But Curry missed a wide open three from the right side and Westbrook drove on Steph and collected a trip to the line, to go back up, 80-70.
Thompson continued his onslaught with a right baseline drive that finished with a lefty reverse, then cut and caught a pass from Steph for a layup, and the Warriors were back within two possessions, down 80-74 with 4:43 to go.
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But Klay picked up his fourth personal on the next possession, altering the momentum, as Westbrook missed a late shotclock jumper and, on the rebound, Steven Adams was smothered by Bogut, Thompson, and Harrison Barnes.
Barnes raised his hand to try and notch the foul, but to no avail.
On the next possession, Thompson took a quick “revenge” catch-and-shoot from 27 feet straight out, missed badly, but raced back on defense to disrupt a Westbrook attack with no foul. However, Klay came back and bounced a pass straight to Westbrook, perhaps affected by the previous rushed shot, and Westbrook went 99 miles per hour for the finishing scoop.
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Kerr called timeout as OKC went back up, 84-74, with 3:49 left.
Shaun Livingston got a runner, but Westbrook found Adams for a dunk and Waiters pulled up for three from up top, although that was answered by an Andre Iguodala triple rattling in, assisted by Curry.
Westbrook answered again with a pull-up from the top, Steph missed another three from the right side.
However, Festus Ezeli got fouled on the rebound, and Barnes drew Adams’ fourth personal on an upfake.
Durant hit a dribble-and-pop over Barnes, Curry’s pass got deflected again by Westbrook, and Livingston fouled Enes Kanter on the ensuing break with 17.5 seconds remaining.
Down 82-94, Klay came in on the free throws and missed a spinning, fading shot, and the buzzer sounded as Westbrook tried to advance past halfcourt.
4th Quarter – OKC Keep Warriors At Bay
To start the 4th quarter, Klay Thompson hit a 3 from the top of the key. Roberson missed a corner three then Durant stepped into a three to extend OKC’s lead to 12.
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Poor shot selection was not helping the Warriors, but in Klay’s defense, he was the only Warrior hitting shots…
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Iguodala fouled Durant who hit the first free throw then Kerr called a timeout with 9:30 to go to get Curry back into the ball game. Durant missed the second free throw.
Klay missed a three, Roberson made one…
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…then OKC got a steal – however they came up entire on multiple possessions. Green got to the free throw line, made two and the score was 101-87 with just over 8 minutes left.
Durant found Roberson in the paint for the easy layup…
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…then Curry came back, drove right and finally got a bucket to go, his first of the second half. Westbrook answered to give him 33-10-10 on the night.
Stephen Curry missed a layup which summed up his night…
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…then Westbrook found Roberson for the easy bucket. Kerr called timeout with 5:36 left and the deficit at 18.
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Iguodala and Ibaka missed threes, Barnes turned the ball over and then Ibaka got a hook shot to drop. Curry responded with a reverse lay up but then Roberson put back Westbrook’s miss which gave OKC a 20 point lead.
Durant blocked Green’s shot…
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…then Westbrook hit a three pointer. Kerr called timeout with 3:15 to go and the bench mob checked in.
Speights hit a shot, Waiters scored four straight points, Barbosa split a pair of free throws and that was enough for OKC to take a 3-1 series lead on the back of a 24 point win.
FINAL: OKC defeat Warriors (1-3), 118-94
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