Adams And Thunder Crushed By Curry And Warriors

After Steven Adams and the Thunder enjoyed their time to shine, game two of the Western Conference finals was all about Steph Curry.

Golden State this afternoon levelled the seven-game series at one game apiece after Curry unleashed an electric shooting display to see off Oklahoma City 118-91.

The two-time MVP turned a tight game on its head in the third quarter at Oracle Arena, needing less than five minutes to score 17 points in an outburst Adams and his teammates were powerless to prevent.

Curry led the Warriors with 28 points on nine-of-15 shooting, recording his haul in just 30 minutes and finishing with a plus-minus of +24. Kevin Durant rode a dominant first half to a team-high 29 points for the Thunder while Adams grabbed nine points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes on the floor.

A missed free throw saw the centre's streak of consecutive double-doubles snapped at four but he was perhaps satisfied in playing another significant role, having been forced from the floor early in the first quarter after Festus Ezeli landed awkwardly on Adams' back while chasing a rebound.

The Kiwi headed to the locker room to receive some attention from the medical staff and soon returned to action, but his presence was not enough to restrict the Warriors' dominance on the boards, earning a 45-36 advantage in the game and pulling down a pivotal 15 offensive rebounds.

Given that disparity was largely built early, the Thunder had done well to level the game late in the first half, looking to follow their game one upset with what could have been a decisive victory over their record-breaking opponents.

But then two things happened: Golden State closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run to lead by eight at halftime and, after the break, Curry took over.

The guard had attempted only one shot, a miss, in the second quarter, but such restraint was never going the last. In the blink of an eye, Curry embarked on a personal 15-2 run to blow open the game, finishing the quarter with 17 points on eight shots and giving the Warriors a big buffer they would never squander.

Adams and his fellow Thunder starters spent much of the fourth quarter resting on the bench, left to contemplate what they could possibly do to stop Curry in Monday afternoon's (NZT) game three.

Given the Warriors had avoided back-to-back defeats all throughout their record-setting 73-9 regular season, today's defeat should have come as no surprise. But the onus will be on the Thunder to defend their home court in the two games to come in Oklahoma, knowing the Warriors would host any seventh game.

NZ Herald