The Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder delivered the competitive, playoff-like intensity that the NBA had hoped for in the inaugural In-Season Tournament.
Stephen Curry, with 30 points to his name, including the game-winning layup with a mere 0.2 seconds left, led the Warriors to a thrilling 141-139 victory over the Thunder on Friday night.
Initially, Curry's final shot was disallowed due to offensive goaltending by Draymond Green, but the call was ultimately overturned, securing the win for the Warriors.
Draymond Green explained that the call was reversed because he had touched the rim and not the ball, a sentiment echoed by Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.
The Associated Press (AP) reported Green's positive view on the NBA's new tournament, stating that it has brought something great to the league.
The crowd remained energized throughout the game, especially when foul calls involved Draymond Green. Dario Saric contributed with 20 points, and Chris Paul showcased his playmaking skills with 13 assists and no turnovers for the 5-1 Golden State team.
This victory marked the Warriors' second consecutive last-second win, with Klay Thompson's clutch shot sealing a previous win against Sacramento on Wednesday.
On the opposing side, Lu Dort scored 29 points and made all six of his 3-point attempts, Chet Holmgren notched 24 points on 7-for-9 shooting, and Josh Giddey added 18 points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder's leading scorer for the season, was sidelined due to a sprained left knee.
The game kicked off with the Warriors hitting seven 3-pointers in the first quarter, securing a 38-33 lead. Dario Saric scored 11 points as a reserve during this period.
An impressive no-look lob from Curry to Gary Payton II for a dunk extended the Warriors' lead to 50-44. In the second quarter, the Warriors nailed six 3-pointers to head into halftime with a 69-67 lead. Despite Klay Thompson's leaning 3-pointer at the buzzer that could have increased the lead, it was ruled no good on the floor, a decision upheld after review.
Lu Dort was the star of the third quarter, scoring 11 points in just over four minutes, enabling the Thunder to take an 85-80 lead. The Warriors mounted a comeback, and the game was tied at 106 going into the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City's Isaiah Joe made a 3-pointer while being fouled with 9:15 remaining. He converted the free throw to give the Thunder a 118-115 lead, and the game remained fiercely competitive until the end.
In the end, the Thunder came close to securing a significant victory but just fell short.
UP NEXT:
Warriors: Host Minnesota in the next In-Season Tournament game on November 14. They also play a regular game against Cleveland on Sunday.
Thunder: Face Sacramento in their next In-Season Tournament game on November 10. They host Atlanta in a regular game on Monday.