OAKLAND — With the playoffs upon us, Oracle Arena has returned in full force. Steve Kerr and Warriors players feel it.
In Thursday night’s 123-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State launched a 24-2 run during the second quarter. The Warriors outscored the Pelicans 41-23 in the second period, ultimately building too large of a deficit for New Orleans to overcome.
Oracle Arena bellowed in cheers throughout the run, and the Warriors fed off the energy.
“It was probably the loudest I have heard Oracle all year,” Kerr said postgame. “It was kind of a weird regular season, but the playoffs are here and guys feel that, our fans feel that, and that second quarter reflected what’s at stake and what we are trying to accomplish. The crowd was into it, our bench was great — that’s what makes it fun, when you see that.”
Durant said he enjoys that the Oracle Arena crowd appreciates the game itself.
“As a fan of the game you just enjoy so many people that love what you love,” Durant said. “It’s pretty amazing.”
Among the key contributors throughout the second quarter run was Klay Thompson. He continued to make jumpers from the same right corner spot, scoring a team-high 13 points on 3-4 from three-point range.
After his final three-pointer of the quarter, he sent both the Warriors bench and Oracle Arena into a delirious frenzy.
KLAY IS UNCONCIOUS! ?@warriors on a 24-2 run!#NBAPlayoffs | #DubNation pic.twitter.com/Uwnje1tSvl
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 29, 2018
“It’s the best feeling,” Thompson said. “It’s why we play. At the end of the day, we are entertainers, we are basketball players. Whenever you can get the crowd into it like that, it really uplifts our whole team.”
Klay x Bench reaction x Steph. ? pic.twitter.com/LiKKwiPrYR
— Warriors Talk (@JaeAzizi) April 29, 2018