Warriors Storm Back to Defeat Thunder 116-109 Despite 52-Point Night from Gilgeous-Alexander

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry at a Warriors vs Magic game in 2017. Photo by Robert John Herbert/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (7946500u)

The Golden State Warriors overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and a historic performance by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-109 on Wednesday night. According to ESPN, Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 52 points, powered the Thunder, but it wasn’t enough to stave off a balanced Warriors effort led by Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins.

The Thunder came out firing in the first half, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 21 of Oklahoma City’s 34 first-quarter points. By halftime, the Thunder were up 58-48, with Gilgeous-Alexander tallying 31 points. He finished the night with 16-of-29 shooting from the field and made 18 of 21 free throws. Despite his remarkable effort, Oklahoma City could not withstand a strong second-half push from the Warriors.

Golden State, who struggled early in the game, began to chip away at the Thunder’s lead in the third quarter. After being down by 14 points at one stage, the Warriors fought back, using a surge of offense to take control in the latter half. Curry, who had been struggling with sore knees, found his rhythm in the second half. He scored 17 of his 21 points after halftime, helping the Warriors seize the lead in the fourth quarter.

Alongside Curry’s comeback performance, Wiggins was a key contributor, finishing the game with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, as noted by Yahoo! Sports. The Warriors’ bench also played a crucial role in their victory, outscoring Oklahoma City’s 48-21. Kevon Looney tied his career high with 18 points, and Gary Payton II added 15 points and nine rebounds, including a clutch one-handed dunk late in the game that energized the crowd, as noted by Sportsnet.

The Thunder, despite the remarkable play of their star, faced challenges on the offensive end. They finished 9-of-39 from beyond the arc, and their bench failed to match the Warriors’ depth. Additionally, Isaiah Hartenstein’s 18 rebounds provided some hope, but the Thunder’s offense sputtered as the Warriors gained momentum in the second half.

Key moments came late in the game when Curry’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:52 left and a crucial shot from Wiggins sealed the win for the Warriors. Gary Payton II’s dunk in the final minutes served as the exclamation point on a thrilling comeback.

The Warriors’ victory was a testament to their resilience, as they showed a significant turnaround after their disappointing defeat to the Boston Celtics just nine days earlier. Golden State now holds a 24-23 record and will face the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

The Thunder, sitting atop the Western Conference, will head back to Oklahoma City to face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Despite the loss, Oklahoma City remains a formidable force in the league with Gilgeous-Alexander’s continued dominance.

As the Warriors continue their homestand, the importance of balanced team efforts, including contributions from Curry, Wiggins, and their bench, was on full display as they managed to overcome the Thunder’s star power.