Isaiah Joe hit seven consecutive 3-pointers as part of a long-distance shooting barrage that lifted the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 128-109 victory over the short-handed Golden State Warriors on Thursday night in San Francisco.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in with three 3-pointers as part of a team-high 24 points, and Josh Giddey connected on all three of his attempts from deep on a night when the Thunder, winning for the fifth time in their last six games, shot 59.4 percent from beyond the arc, making 19 of 32.
Missing the league’s top 3-point shooter, injured Stephen Curry, the Warriors couldn’t keep pace en route to their fifth straight loss, countering with just 14 threes despite getting nine more attempts.
The Thunder led by as many as 19 points in a 67-point first half, but their lead dwindled to just one at 84-83 in the 10th minute of the third quarter. That’s when Joe, who finished with 23 points, and Gilgeous-Alexander drilled consecutive 3-pointers and the Thunder went on to score 10 of the period’s final 12 points to rebuild a nine-point advantage.
Golden State, which was also without Draymond Green on the first night of his five-game suspension, got no closer than eight in the final period.
Joe’s seven 3-pointers matched his single-game that he set three times previously, although he needed 10 attempts once and 12 twice on those occasions.
Chet Holmgren put up a double-double for Oklahoma City with 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while Giddey finished with 19 points, Jalen Williams 16 and Cason Wallace 10.
Kevon Looney had a game-high 11 rebounds and added 13 points off the bench for the Warriors, who get a rematch with the Thunder on Saturday night.
Jonathan Kuminga led Golden State with 21 points, while Chris Paul had 15, Brandin Podziemski 13, and Dario Saric, Andrew Wiggins and Moses Moody 12 apiece.
The Thunder outshot the Warriors 50.6 percent to 40.8 percent overall.
–Field Level Media
