OAKLAND, Calif. — The Warriors played stifling defense for a full game. They went on a jaw-dropping scoring frenzy midway through the third quarter.
Yes, the dominant defending champions are back and ready to build some consistency.
Kevin Durant scored 28 points while avenging an embarrassing home loss to his former Oklahoma City team earlier this month and another on the road in November, leading the Warriors past the Thunder 112-80 on Saturday night.
“We’re champions. We’re 46-14 and we’ve got one of the best road records in the league,” Durant said. “We’ve been doing this the last two years. We’ve got to be us.”
Stephen Curry added 21 points with five 3-pointers, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals as Golden State produced the kind of defensive performance coach Steve Kerr has been seeking.
Russell Westbrook had 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, which failed to reach 100 points for the first time in the last five games. The Thunder had scored at least 100 in 14 of their last 16, but this matched their season-low total.
Durant’s pretty layup off a perfect pass by Curry with 3:06 left in the third put the Warriors up 75-66. That was part of a 37-11 Golden State run that included 30 points over the final 8:48 of the third — when Zaza Pachulia subbed in to relieve JaVale McGee.
Pachulia was the target of some ire after getting tangled up with Westbrook and Nick Young under the basket then falling on Westbrook’s legs. Some saw the fall as an intentional move by Pachulia to injure Westbrook, hearkening back to the Warriors big man knocking Kawhi Leonard out of the playoffs last season by stick his foot under Leonard landing on a jump shot. Westbrook exited the game after the play and did not return.
The Warriors held Paul George to five points. George’s 3-pointer at the 7:52 mark of the third with Durant’s hand in his face was his first basket after going 0 for 9 to begin the game. He finished 1 for 14 after going off for 38 points in the last meeting when Oklahoma City left Oracle Arena with a 125-105 rout on Feb. 6.
“He’s played at such a high level offensively for such a long time, a night like tonight’s going to happen,” coach Billy Donovan said.
Golden State also lost at OKC by 17 on Nov. 22.
Draymond Green added 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds. He picked up his 15th technical of the season with 1:04 left in the first half, moving him within one of an automatic suspension. That came after Durant and Carmelo Anthony pushed, shoved, yelled from close range and had to be separated, receiving double technicals.
It was a testy rematch after the Warriors received five technical fouls in the previous meeting. Kerr isn’t concerned about Green.
“I’m an emotional guy. I play with high emotion,” Green said. “I love this game of basketball. I play it with passion. I’ll continue to play with passion.”
Durant announced his decision to join the Warriors and leave OKC on July 4, 2016, making him an instant villain in his former city.
He scored 33 in the Feb. 6 meeting but got plenty of help this time.
Earlier this month against the Thunder, Curry and Klay Thompson were a combined 11 of 27 from the floor and 4 for 15 on 3-pointers as the Warriors lost for the third time in four games. Thompson had 11 points Saturday, shooting just 1 for 11 from deep.