Thunder win sixth straight, defeat Warriors
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder extended its winning streak to six games Friday night with an overtime win at home over the Golden State Warriors, winning on a 3-point basket by point guard Russell Westbrook with 0.1 seconds left.
The Thunder stayed undefeated at home and advanced to 11-3 this season with the 113-112 win. The Warriors continued to struggle, dropping to 9-8 and losing their fifth game out of the last six.
The Warriors were led by point guard Stephen Curry's 32 points. Westbrook got off to a quick start for the Thunder, scoring 11 in the first quarter and 34 in the game to lead Oklahoma City.
Forward Harrison Barnes played a big role on both ends of the floor for Golden State, guarding Kevin Durant in the overtime, once forcing him into a turnover. Barnes scored 26 points including the go-ahead bucket late in the overtime to give Golden State a 112-110 lead.
Barnes missed a contested jumper over Westbrook, however, and Oklahoma City got the ball back with 19.1 seconds left in overtime with a chance to tie or win. Durant missed a floater and the ball went out of bounds with 9.4 seconds left, and stayed with the Thunder after review.
Forward Serge Ibaka missed a 15-foot jump shot, but Westbrook got the offensive rebound in the corner and launched an off-balance 3 that gave the Thunder the victory.
Warriors leading scorer Klay Thompson struggled early in the game, opening up 1-for-10, but scored 13 points in the third quarter and finished with 16.
The Thunder were down 82-76 at the end of the third quarter, but scored seven points in a row in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter to take back the lead. Forward Kevin Durant, who had a quiet first three quarters, hit two jump shots during the run. Durant scored 25 in the game.
NOTES: After the Warriors handed the Thunder its third loss of the season on Nov. 14 in Oakland, OKC won its next five games in a row. Golden State went 3-4 after that game, having lost four out of its last five games entering Friday's contest. ... Golden State F Andre Iguodala, who hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer Nov. 14 against the Thunder, did not play Friday due to a hamstring injury that has kept him out four games in a row now. Iguodala could possibly return Dec. 1 against Sacramento. ... Thunder G Russell Westbrook, who shot 2-for-16 in Wednesday's win over San Antonio, started Friday's game 5-for-6 with 11 points in the first quarter. ... Warriors F Jermaine O'Neal was called for a technical foul in the second quarter after an altercation with C Steven Adams.
