Durant-Westbrook outduel Curry-Thompson as Thunder defeat Warriors in game one

The Oklahoma City Thunder trailed the Golden State Warriors at the end of the first, second and third quarters, but that did not stop them from claiming game one of the NBA Western Conference final 108-102.

The Thunder’s sloppy first half saw a clinical Warriors outfit take a seemingly commanding lead, but they could not hold onto their 13-point half-time advantage at the Oracle Arena.

OKC, led by the brilliant duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, picked up their game in the second half, rallying to within a point by the time the third quarter ended before winning the game by six points.

Steven Adams banked the important free throws deep in the fourth quarter to give his side an unassailable six-point lead.

The points brought Adams’ game tally to 16 points, while he picked up 12 rebounds in a big double-double performance.

The Warriors responded late to cut the margin back down to four but Westbrook made sure of the result when he converted two free throws with nine seconds remaining in regulation time.

Westbrook – who only had eight points midway through the third quarter – top-scored with 27 points and contributed 12 assists, while Durant (26 points and 10 rebounds) completed a hat-trick of double-doubles for the Thunder, underlining their overall team effort.

Durant was matched by two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry, who equalled the former’s tally of 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Curry’s was the only double-double effort from the Warriors, with Klay Thompson (25 points) and Draymond Green (23) chipping in for the home side, but it proved to be not enough for the defending champions.

The Warriors will have the chance to tie the series on Wednesday in front of their home fans in game two.