
Programming note: Watch Warriors Playoff Central today at 4:30pm on CSN Bay Area, and streaming live right here.
OAKLAND – Taking the floor for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night, the Warriors will try to refute those who believe cracks are forming in what has been a rock-solid foundation.
The defending champions must prove they remain masters of their domain, despite blowing a 14-point lead in a rare home loss to Oklahoma City in Game 1.
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[POOLE: Three things Warriors need to fix to beat Thunder in Game 2]
The Warriors had not blown such a lead this season, certainly not at Oracle Arena, and now they’re out to avoid losing successive home games for the first time since Jan. 20 and 24, 2014.
Insofar as Games 3 and 4 will be played in Oklahoma City, the Warriors are, elimination game aside, about as close as possible to being in a “must-win” situation.
BETTING LINE
Golden State Warriors
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Warriors by 8.5
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli vs. Steven Adams: Adams has made dramatic improvements over two seasons, and he’s making another leap in the postseason. His 16-point, 12-rebound, two-block performance in Game 1 made him a major factor. Bogut and Ezeli have to find a way to approximate his energy and production.
[RELATED: Warriors avoid Adams' 'quick little monkeys' comment]
Stephen Curry vs. Russell Westbrook: Though Curry outplayed Westbrook in several areas in Game 1, his seven turnovers allowed Westbrook to lead his team to victory. All other things being relatively equal, the statistics to watch between these two are turnovers and shooting percentages.
Andre Iguodala vs. Kevin Durant: Durant is going to score, so the goal is to keep him out of the 40s and make him a volume shooter. It worked in Game 1, when he took 30 shots to score 26 points. The Warriors would like to force a replay.
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F Kevon Looney (L hip surgery) is listed as out.
Thunder: No injuries listed.
ROAD TO THE CONFERENCE FINALS
Warriors: Defeated Houston 4-1 in the first round; defeated Portland 4-1 in conference semifinal.
Thunder: Defeated Dallas 4-1 in the first round; defeated San Antonio 4-2 in conference semifinal.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first postseason meeting between the teams. The Warriors swept three meetings in the regular season and, after losing Game 1, have won six of eight over the past two seasons.
QUOTABLE
“I was telling the guys when we look at our championship run, any time we talk about it, we talk about being down 2-1 to Memphis, being down 2-1 to Cleveland. We never talk about beating the Pelicans 4-0. We never talk about beating the Rockets 4-1. You talk about the trying times. So right now is one of those times. We've never been down 0-1, so this is foreign territory for us.” – Draymond Green, assessing the Warriors’ current challenge