SAN FRANCISCO — Earlier in the season, when the Warriors started with a scorching 12-3 record and looked like true contenders, they managed to defeat the Thunder on their home court.
Fast forward through two brutal months and 20 losses, and they pulled off another surprise—this time at Chase Center.
Despite their struggles, key Warriors players have remained confident in their roster, believing that the team that started strong is still in there somewhere. For at least one night, that version of the Warriors reappeared, taking down the Western Conference’s top team.
Whether their 116-109 victory over Oklahoma City is a sign that they can rediscover their early-season form remains to be seen. But what’s certain is that this was one of their most inspired performances of the year. On the second night of a back-to-back and without Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors managed to overcome a spectacular 52-point effort from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Curry stepped up in the second half, scoring 17 points and making crucial plays down the stretch. Andrew Wiggins led the team with 27 points, knocking down five three-pointers. Kevon Looney matched his regular-season career high with 18 points, while Gary Payton II contributed 15 points and nine rebounds—capping the night with a ferocious dunk in the final minute.
The Warriors (24-23) entered the game as 10-point underdogs at home. Meanwhile, the Thunder, led by MVP candidate Gilgeous-Alexander, have been the most dominant team in the conference this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander started the game on fire, outscoring the Warriors by himself in the first quarter. He shot 7-for-8 from the field and made six of seven free throws. His elite ball-handling and incredible body control allowed him to get to any spot he wanted.
At one point, he shook off Wiggins—Golden State’s top perimeter defender—with a crossover and finished a tough, hanging layup at the rim.
However, hot shooting from Wiggins and Dennis Schroder off the bench helped the Warriors stay competitive. They won the six-minute stretch while Gilgeous-Alexander rested, outscoring the Thunder 17-9 and cutting the deficit to six.
Gilgeous-Alexander quickly responded, extending Oklahoma City’s lead back to 10 with an and-one finish over Quinten Post, a drive-and-kick assist, and a three-pointer. It could have been a 13-point lead at halftime, but Wiggins nailed a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the wing.
His 21-point quarter and 31-point half were the most the Warriors had allowed in a single quarter and half all season. Oklahoma City won his first 17 minutes by 18 points, with Gilgeous-Alexander accounting for more than half of the team’s scoring.
Meanwhile, Curry, the league’s most dominant guard over the past decade, struggled early. Trapped frequently, he had to play off the ball and finished the first half with just four points on 1-for-7 shooting.
Looney replaced Post to start the second half. The rookie, making his first career start, contributed to Golden State’s league-leading 28th different starting lineup of the season but had little impact.
The Warriors adjusted defensively, throwing more double-teams at Gilgeous-Alexander and forcing his teammates to step up. They also mixed in zone defense. As a result, he missed three straight shots, including an airball, allowing the Warriors to go on a 15-6 run and cut the lead to one.
The only MVP chants of the night were for Curry when he went to the free-throw line midway through the third quarter. His free throws extended Golden State’s run to 21-6 as Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first four shots of the half. The Warriors claimed their first lead since the opening minutes.
Looney drew an offensive foul on Gilgeous-Alexander and scored twice inside. Trayce Jackson-Davis, who had been starting, did not play, while Kyle Anderson filled in as a small-ball center.
The third quarter saw four lead changes. A strong baseline drive from Moses Moody tied the game at 84 heading into the fourth.
Curry found space twice for deep three-pointers early in the final quarter, catching fire at the right moment as both teams traded blows.
Defensive-focused lineups helped generate stops, opening up transition opportunities. Wiggins, Schroder, and Brandin Podziemski made key shots in the half-court offense to hold off Gilgeous-Alexander while Curry rested.
Curry returned to the game following Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20th and 21st free-throw attempts. The Warriors held a four-point lead with 4:39 remaining.
Podziemski and Anderson delivered clutch fadeaway jumpers as the shot clock expired, capitalizing on cracks in Oklahoma City’s top-ranked defense.
After consecutive baskets from Jalen Williams cut the Thunder’s deficit to three, Curry responded with a deep 30-footer. On the next possession, he found Wiggins in the corner for a three-pointer that swished through the net with 1:20 left. The Chase Center crowd erupted, reminiscent of Oracle Arena’s energy, as Payton threw down a monstrous dunk over Isaiah Hartenstein.
Payton scaled the mountain, and for one night, so did the Warriors.
