With the playoffs starting this Sunday, let’s take a quick look back at the top 10 moments of another uniquely memorable Warriors’ regular season.
10. Warriors score 50 points in third quarter vs. Clippers
Looking for a series sweep of their former rivals, Golden State got off to a shaky start on Feb. 23, trailing the Clips 49-61 at halftime. Any hopes that LA had of beating the Warriors for the first time in 10 tries faded quickly, as Stephen Curry helped lead the Golden State to a 50-point barrage in the third quarter, the first 50-point quarter since 2014.
9. Pachulia stands over Westbrook
The first showdown between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in Oakland was a one-sided affair (all would prove to be) but it wasn’t without drama. Zaza Pachulia made his debut as the Warriors’ new enforcer, knocking Westbrook to the ground with a flagrant foul in the second quarter, and then standing over him as a laid face down. Westbrook promised to “get (Pachulia’s) ass back” for the incident (he never did), while Pachulia said he was down for whatever.
8. Curry gets in shoving match, ends half with 3
Curry has made a habit hitting ridiculous shots at the buzzer over the last couple years, but few were as satisfying as the dagger he hit to beat the halftime horn in Oklahoma City on Mar. 20, directly after getting into a shoving match with Russell Westbrook and Semaj Christon. Curry, always an entertainer, sprinted into the locker room right after the shot went in.
7. Kevin Durant injures knee
Easily the scariest moment of the Warriors’ season came on Feb. 28, when Zaza Pachulia was knocked into Kevin Durant, causing a Grade 2 MCL strain and bone bruise to his left knee. Durant initially believed the injury to be season ending, but ultimately would return a month later. The injury may have been a blessing in desguise for the Warriors, who refound their groove after a rough patch, winning 14 games straight without one of their superstars.
6. Loss to Cleveland on Christmas, redemption three weeks later
NBA fans were not treated to a finals rematch until Christmas Day, when the Warriors suffered anther heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Cleveland, blowing a 14-point fourth quarter lead and Kyrie Iriving hitting another dagger to seal the deal. Golden State ultimately got their revenge three weeks later, demolishing the Cavs by 35 at Oracle.
5. Curry sets single-game three point record
One game after not making a 3-pointer for the first time in 157 games, Curry made up for it by hitting 13 against the helpless New Orleans Pelicans, breaking the NBA record for most 3s made by a player in a single game.
4. 14 game winning streak without Durant
After losing Durant and going 2-5 in their next seven games, many had left the Warriors for dead. Golden State responded by winning 14 consecutive games, and playing arguably their best basketball of the season right before the playoffs.
3. Durant’s return to OKC
Durant made his fateful return to the Oklahoma City on Feb. 11, and was booed and jeered during the entire game, in a hostile environment juxtaposed with a myriad of cupcake themed signs and memorabilia. Durant would get the last laugh, dropping 34, beating the Thunder by 16 and capping the game off with a three in Westbrook’s face.
KD deep 3 over Russ pic.twitter.com/VA0jmAvBtl
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) February 12, 2017
2. Klay’s 60 point quarter
When Klay Thompson gets rolling, there’s nothing quite like it. A year after dropping an unfathomable 37 in a quarter, Thompson erupted for 60-points in three quarters against the Pacers on Dec. 5, and could’ve probably gone for at least 80 had Steve Kerr left him in.
1. On back end of back-to-back, Warriors overcome 22 point first-quarter deficit to beat Spurs
The Warriors looked like they were in big trouble in the first quarter of their March 30 clash with the San Antonio Spurs in Texas, billed as the first legit showdown between the league’s top two teams. Still without Durant and coming off a game the night before against the Rockets, Golden State fell into an early 15-0 hole, and at one point fell behind 29-7 in the first quarter. From that point, the Warriors would outscore the Spurs 103-69 to close the game, and end any discussion about who was the best team in the Western Conference.
