Westbrook, Thunder lose first showdown against KD
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Kevin Durant matched his career high with seven 3-pointers and scored 39 points, coolly knocking down long jumpers while thoroughly embarrassing Russell Westbrook and his old Oklahoma City team in Golden State's 122-96 rout of the Thunder on Thursday night.
This rematch of the Western Conference Finals won by the Warriors in seven games quickly turned into the KD show at sold-out Oracle Arena, where OKC (4-1) took its first loss to leave LeBron James and the champion Cavaliers as the league's lone unbeaten team.
So much for this one being just like any other game for Durant. Even he knew it would certainly mean more once the ball was tipped, a matchup circled on calendars everywhere from the moment he joined the Warriors in July.
Westbrook was held to 20 points -- yes, that's right -- after coming in as the NBA's leading scorer averaging 37.8 points.
Stephen Curry added 21 points and seven assists while Klay Thompson emerged from his 3-point funk to make four from long range on the way to 18 points in the Warriors' fourth straight win.
But this was all about Durant on a night No. 35 and his teammates redeemed themselves after a 129-100 flop in their season opener Oct. 25 against San Antonio that sent fans for the exits with more than 5 minutes left.
When KD sat down for good with 6:41 to play, he received a rousing ovation and fans began chanting "K-D!"
Durant dunked to end the third and pumped his arms and shook his head. He repeatedly pointed to the roof and roared in celebration to punctuate big plays -- and, wow, did he have his share of them in this first, fabulous, hyped-up reunion with his former OKC boys.
Consecutive 3s before the half, baskets off rebounds, altering shots with that superior wingspan, KD flat out did it all. He shot 15 for 24, 7 of 11 from deep, in his third 30-point performance, had seven rebounds and a block.
Westbrook had put up triple-doubles in two of his previous three games with a 35-point outing in Wednesday's win at the Clippers. But he didn't have it the very next night, going 4 for 15 with 10 points coming on free throws to go with 10 assists and six rebounds.
Victor Oladipo led OKC with 21 points.
TIP-INS
Thunder: The Thunder missed a chance to match the best start of the OKC era at 5-0, accomplished in 2011-12. ... OKC played its first of 14 sets on consecutive nights after going 6-10 last season on the second night of back-to-backs.
Warriors: Durant's 69 straight games scoring 20 or more points are most since Michael Jordan did so from Nov. 24, 1990-April 19, 1991. ... An infuriated coach Steve Kerr had to be held back by assistant Mike Brown when no foul was called on a 3-point attempt by Curry at the 8:34 mark of the first quarter.
Free agent relief pitcher Sergio Romo, the Giants closer at the end of the season, tossed towels during timeouts. ... Warriors defensive guru Ron Adams, with 22 years as an NBA assistant, was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. He coached Fresno State and alma mater Fresno Pacific.
ANDRE WARD AND KD
Oakland boxing star Andre Ward attended Thursday and has become great pals with KD -- even attending his 28th birthday party in late September. Durant reached out a couple of years ago.
"Just direct messaged me one night out of the blue on Instagram and had this long message about how he respected me, he follows me and I'm his favorite fighter. I'm like, `Come on, man, this isn't the real KD?'" Ward recalled. "It's the real KD. He left his number, we connected and we've been building a relationship ever since."
UP NEXT
Thunder: Host Minnesota on Saturday to begin five straight home games and eight of nine.
Warriors: Visit the Lakers on Friday to face former top assistant Luke Walton for the first time since he became L.A.'s new coach.
