Steven Adams' Thunder thrash dismal Warriors
Steven Adams and his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are just one win away from eliminating NBA defending champions Golden State Warriors from the playoffs.
The Thunder played in front of a ferocious home crowd today and won 118-94 to jump ahead in the Western Conference Finals series 3-1.
Star guard Russell Westbrook was outstanding for the Thunder with a triple double of 36 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds.
Forward Kevin Durant added 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Adams had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Adams also had two assists, including a spectacular one-arm bullet pass to Andre Robertson, who finished with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The NBA labelled it the "assist of the night".
Adams hits Roberson with a fastball for the #AssistoftheNight! https://t.co/ek7ZK2iJc1
— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2016
For the Warriors, Klay Thompson top-scored with 26 points, but league MVP Stephen Curry was kept quiet with 19 points.
The build-up had been dominated by talk of Warriors forward Draymond Green's kick to Adams' groin in game three, which OKC won by a crushing 133-105.
Adams went into the game with a lot of support behind him after he copped the blow to his "kiwis".
Thunder fans with the Anti-Draymond Green signs at Chesapeake Energy Arena for Game 4 pic.twitter.com/v0NKUQLNNF
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 25, 2016
#ProtectAdamsKiwis pic.twitter.com/uPxoWJfdGB
— Chris Law (@ChrisLaw) May 25, 2016
Young Thunder fan goes full Steven Adams for Game 4! 😂 https://t.co/FYCtC4X9dc pic.twitter.com/jo4VbICXuq
— theScore (@theScore) May 25, 2016
Good luck @RealStevenAdams and @okcthunder for Game 4! One hour to go... #ThunderUp #StandUpForSteven pic.twitter.com/VSBMCdu83d
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) May 25, 2016
Green was fined by the NBA, although not suspended, but he didn't show his usual energy on court.
READ MORE:
'He's pretty accurate, that guy': Stevens Adams says after knock to the groin
Draymond Green fined for kicking Steven Adams in the groin
He and Adams did tangle as early as 35 seconds into the contest at Chesapeake Arena, when Adams was fouled as he went up for a basket.
The New Zealand centre, playing with a bandage protecting a bruised right thumb, landed the two free-throws to open the scoring.
Adams' body continued to take punishment, as he rolled an ankle while contesting a rebound.
He came back later in the first quarter and immediately produced a hook shot for two that took his side out to a 27-15 lead.
It was in the opening quarter that OKC made the decisive break, scoring 14 points in a row after the teams had been tied at 8-8.
The Warriors settled down from an early rash of turnovers to close to 30-26 behind at quarter-time.
However, OKC produced a strong run late in the second quarter to go out to a comfortable 72-53 advantage.
It was the second game in a row that they had racked up 72 points in the opening half.
From there, they kept the Warriors at arm's length to give themselves a great chance of facing either the Toronto Raptors or the Cleveland Cavaliers for the title.
The Raptors and the Cavaliers are level at 2-2 in the Eastern Conference finals,