Top 10 OKC Thunder playoff games – Reminiscing the good times
By Alex Mcewen
Number 9: Game 1 vs. Golden State Warriors 2016
After the OKC Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the semifinals, they were on a collision course with the mighty Warriors. Few gave the Thunder much of a chance to take out the Dubs. Case in point, all 18 ESPN staff writers predicted the Warriors would win the series, five of which picked Dubs in five.
Golden State was favored for good reason, losing a total of two games on their way to the Conference Finals. Least we forget, the Warriors set a new regular season record in 2016 by winning 73 games. Moreover, during this run, the Warriors did not lose consecutive contests.
Despite all these factors and knowing the task at hand was massive. Oklahoma City entered the series with a mindset determined to knock-out the Warriors.
Game Specifics
- When: May 16, 2016
- Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland California
- Opponent: Golden State Warriors
- Final score: 108 – 102, Thunder win
Oklahoma City used a thunderous third quarter, where they dropped 38 points on the Warriors. The Thunder ultimately prevailed due to stifling defense in the fourth, holding the dubs to a mere 14 points.
It was a gutsy win that surprised many outside of Oklahoma City. While the series didn’t end how the Thunder or their fans hoped, OKC’s Game 1 win forced the NBA world to acknowledge a Golden State-Cleveland finals rematch wasn’t a foregone conclusion.