OKLAHOMA CITY – Because they’ve owned the best record since Day 1 of the season, it should come as no surprise the Warriors are in position to be first team to clinch a berth in the playoffs.
That could happen as early as Saturday, when the defending champions face the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last time an NBA team clinched a playoff spot in February was the 1987-88 Lakers.
A win by the Warriors (52-5) or a loss by the Rockets to the Spurs Saturday (5pm tipoff) would automatically qualify them for the postseason. It’s a foregone conclusion, perhaps, but it’s still an official requirement.
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SIGN UP HERE If the Warriors were to lose to the Thunder, and the Rockets beat the Spurs, the Warriors can still clinch a playoff spot Saturday night if Portland loses in Chicago and Utah loses at home to Brooklyn.
The Thunder (41-17), playing for a top-four seed, which would give them homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, have struggled more than expected thus. They started clicking in December and continued through January, going 25-6 in those two months, but are only 5-4 in February.
More troubling is that they’ve lost to such teams as the Pelicans, the Kings, the Knicks and the Nets.
As good as Oklahoma City is, the biggest challenge for the Warriors might be overcoming the blahs that can afflict a team at the very end of a long road trip.
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BETTING LINE:
Warriors by 3.5.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Steph Curry vs. Russell Westbrook. The two point guards will face off only occasionally, but each holds the key to the fortunes of his team. Curry can dominate a game, so can Westbrook. Westbrook can control tempo, so can Curry. Curry is the leader of the MVP race, with Westbrook at the moment a distant second.
Draymond Green and Friends vs. Kevin Durant. There are a few players the Warriors defend in rotations, and Durant is such a player. Green will have his chances, as will Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes. Success against Durant is making him a volume shooter and keeping his percentage well under 50.
LAST 10:
Warriors: 9-1. Thunder: 6-4.
INJURY REPORT:
Warriors: C Festus Ezeli (L knee surgery) is not with the team. James Michael McAdoo is active in place of rookie Kevon Looney.
Thunder: No injuries listed.
SERIES HISTORY:
The Warriors won the first meeting, 116-108, on Feb. 6 in Oakland and have taken four of the last five meetings overall. They have, however, lost 11 of the last 12 in Oklahoma City.
QUOTABLE:
“It doesn’t really matter. But these guys, with 82 games, sometimes they need a little motivation other than hearing my Knute Rockne speech, which isn’t very good anyway. Whatever it takes to motivate them is good.” – Warriors coach Steve Kerr, half-joking, on ongoing critiques from former players