How the Golden State Warriors came all the way back from the dead to get within one win of making back to the NBA Finals
Just when we thought the season of breaking records was over, the Golden State Warriors proved us wrong. And they did it in the matter they do best this season: breaking records.
Klay Thompson scored 41 while nailing an NBA playoffs-record 11-three pointers as the defending champions extended the Western Conference Finals to a Game 7 after winning over the Oklahoma City Thunder, 108-101 in Game 6 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
After digging themselves into a 3-1 hole after losing Game 3 and 4 on the road, the Warriors took care of business in Game 5 and then slugged it out in Game 6. Slugged it out? Klay Thompson needed to wear his Yoda socks during the game to allow the Jedi master to guide him. And it actually worked.
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Thompson made 11 of his 18 attempts from the three-point line. His backcourt partner, Stephen Curry regained his rhythm back, scoring 31 points, including the dagger lay-up that iced the victory for the Warriors. He made 6 of 13 attempts from downtown, mostly are contested shots.
To begin with, Game 6 was supposed to be a game that the Thunder should have won. Should. They were leading by as much as 13 points during the first half. So what cost them the victory and the last slot in the NBA Finals to face the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Yes, these two have been the very reason why the Thunder made it this in the playoffs. And yes, they are also the very reason for the failure of the Thunder to close out the series at their homecourt. To make it simple, Durant only made 10 of his 31 attempts in the field while Westbrook only converted 10 of his 27 attempts. The duo missed a total of 38 shot attempts.
But what killed Oklahoma’s chances of finishing the series at home was the shooting percentage from the three-point line. Why? The whole Thunder team only made 3 of their 23 attempts from downtown. In contrast, the Warriors regained their shooting touch, making 47% of their attempts from the three-point line.
If anything, Game 5 and 6 have proven something: GSW isn’t going home just yet. They are here to make history. They are here to tear another page in the history book of the NBA. Why? They can now become the 10th team in the history of the league to come back from a 3-1 series deficit, the first one to do so in the Western Conference Finals.
The series shifts back to Oakland for one last dance. The momentum has already gone to GSW’s side. But we can’t just count the Thunder out. Not just yet. After all, both teams have provided us fans with one of the most spectacular regular season games in recent history. With a chance to face LeBron James and company on the line, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will unleash everything that they have because if they lose this one, it’s over.
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And if OKC fails to win this one, that only increases the chance of Durant signing elsewhere come the free agency this July.