SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors were without multiple rotational pieces, including their big three of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.
Their void was felt.
The Warriors fell to the Thunder, 131-94, as they shot 36% on Friday night at the Chase Center.
Golden State was led by Moses Moody, Al Horford and rookie guard Will Richard; they each had 13 points on the night.
“I feel like for us, we got to make it a lot easier on ourselves by creating easy shots to get each other going,” Richard told USA TODAY Sports. “Maybe getting backdoor cuts, making the right play and getting somebody open. I feel like that’s how you can get yourself out of (a slump).”
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists. He shot 50% from the field in the Oklahoma City victory. Aaron Wiggins, Branden Carlson and Chet Holgrem each had 15.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that, despite not having their stars, the performance was disappointing.
“We weren’t well organized, we didn’t compete well together, disappointing,” Kerr said to reporters after the loss. “Obviously playing them, the best team in the league, but I thought we could have been a lot better.”
The Thunder jumped out to a 34-23 first quarter lead behind 12 points from Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Warriors, without their stars, would need contributions from everyone, and they got just that in the first. Nearly everyone scored in the opening quarter.
The Thunder’s biggest lead in the first half was 13, most of it built in the first quarter, but in the second quarter, the Warriors began to settle in.
Golden State went on a 13-6 run in the first five minutes of the second quarter to cut the lead to two. And then Oklahoma City followed with 19 unanswered points, most of them without Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor. When he was subbed in, it was more of the same.
The Thunder led the Warriors 64-45 at the end of the first half. They built their 19-point lead after going on a 26-9 run in seven minutes to end the second quarter.
“I don’t know that, that was the stretch, I mean the whole game was lopsided,” Kerr told USA TODAY Sports. ‘They won every quarter by 9, 10, 11 points. They’re a great team and they got rolling. I didn’t feel we were very well connected tonight and never found any rhythm.”
Both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half before the Thunder began to pull away. Oklahoma City’s largest lead extended to 33. The Thunder led 95-66 after three quarters.
The onslaught continued through the rest of the game, although the Warriors managed to put up more of a fight in the fourth quarter.
Thunder vs. Warriors highlights
Recap: Warriors keys
- Fill some big shoes: Warriors are without their top scorers and playmakers, so someone is going to have to step up and take the challenge of filling the roles of Curry, Butler and Green. Who will it be? Six players scored in double figures for Golden State, in a loss.
- Make every possession count: The Thunder are a team where there’s little room for error, whether you’re missing stars or not. In this case, with the Warriors missing key guys, it’s important to make every possession count, both on offense and defense. Offensively, find quality shots and take care of the basketball. Defensively, players have to be active on the court. Pressure the perimeter, contain the paint and limit second-chance baskets. The Warriors missed tons of good looks against the Thunder.
- Continue heater from deep: The Warriors made a season-high 24 3-point field goals as a team against Charlotte. Despite missing arguably the greatest shooter of all time, the expectation is still there to knock down 3s. Golden State will need to be on a heater to keep up with Oklahoma City, which averages 122.1 points per game. The Warriors have scored more than 120 in their last five games, going 4-1. Golden State shot 29.5% from 3 and didn’t score over 120 points.
- Keep SGA off the free throw line: Have to be sound, smart defensively. Gilgeous-Alexander has a high offensive IQ and knows how to exploit the defense and draw fouls. Warriors defenders have to be mindful of their angles and positioning when guarding the crafty Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander ended the game with 30 points and made all seven free throw attempts.
Warriors’ next five games
- Jan. 3 vs. Utah Jazz
- Jan. 5 at Los Angeles Clippers
- Jan. 7 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
- Jan. 9 vs. Sacramento Kings
- Jan. 11 vs. Atlanta Hawks