Oklahoma City (3-1) at Golden State (1-3)
When: Thursday, May 26th 2016
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: TNT
The Golden State Warriors are on the brink of elimination and will try break their first two-game losing streak of the season when they host Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Warriors were thoroughly outplayed in the two losses in Oklahoma City and need to find ways to slow down Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. MVP Steph Curry insisted that his team isn’t done yet. “The series isn’t over,” Curry told reporters. “We’ve got to believe in ourselves. It’s obviously frustration. It’s a terrible feeling once again not stepping up and being ourselves and playing our game. But I think we’re a special team. This isn’t how we’re going to go out.” Curry had one burst in the third quarter of Game 2 that propelled Golden State to its lone win in the series but went 5-of-21 from 3-point range in the last two games and committed six turnovers in Game 4. All-Star Draymond Green went 1-for-7 in Game 4 and committed six turnovers as well.
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The Thunder became the first team since the 1987 Lakers to record at least 72 first-half points in back-to-back playoff games. Durant and Westbrook have been strong all series, and Westbrook recorded his first triple-double of the postseason with 36 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the 118-94 Game 4 triumph. Durant had 26 points and 11 boards as the Thunder outrebounded Golden State 56-40. Andre Roberson scored a career-high 17 points in Game 4 to go along with 12 rebounds and five steals. The Thunder have been more aggressive, more athletic, faster and much better at executing on both ends of the floor in 3.5 of the first four games of the series. Since their Game 1 loss in the Semifinals, Oklahoma City is 7-2 against the top two teams in the league (Spurs, Warriors).
There’s no way I can lay 7.5 points on Golden State right now. They certainly have the ability to blow a game open, but the Thunder are playing too well right now to get blown-out. I say it’s a close game with the Warriors pulling it out in the end.
Pick: Thunder +7.5
