Game Preview: OKC Thunder in search of first win hope to continue Warriors misery

Keys to the game

Despite being a much weaker team than during their prime, it is crucial for the OKC Thunder not to get into a shootout with the Warriors. Steph Curry is still arguably the greatest shooter the game has ever seen. While he is not going to be able to carry this team for the whole season to a playoff berth, he has the ability to win a game or two on his own shooting.

This means the half-court defense is going to be crucial for this game. Curry is a master at finding just enough space to get a good shot off. Defensive rotations need to be on point but the defensive savvy of Chris Paul is going to help keep Curry quiet.

Despite the importance of this matchup, it is not the key to the game. This honor will belong to the battle between Draymond Green and Danilo Gallinari. The two power forwards have totally different skill sets.

If Green is able to recapture his Defensive Player of the Year form, Gallo will struggle to get his shot away. This will take away the floor spacing that the OKC Thunder enjoy with Gallo on the floor. However, if the Italian is able to get on top of Green, the Warriors are in for a tough night.