Warriors lose to Thunder, continue hemorrhaging road games at an alarming rate

Are they really trying to become the first 8th seed to win a title?

The Golden State Warriors did last night what they’ve done so many maddening times this season: lose a game on the road. They’re now 7-25 away from Chase Center. This time they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 137-128, on a night when Stephen Curry was looking like the human torch again.

Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. @DrNiravPandya

Frustrating team performance aside, the way Stephen Curry has quickly bounced back from his knee injury is remarkable.

Curry scored 40 points and hit a season high 10 threes, looking positively unstoppable at times. Sophomore Jonathan Kuminga scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Klay Thompson added 23 points of his own. The Dubs scoring 128 in four quarters on 52.8% shooting from the field and 39.2% shooting from beyond the arc would usually signal that they drowned a team in an offensive downpour; last night that offensive output proved futile.

That’s because their defense was horrendous. The Thunder had 7 players in double figures, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 33 points on 14-of-24 shooting from the fild. Josh Giddey added 17 points, 17 assists (!), and 11 rebounds, looking like the spirit of Magic Johnson had taken over his body.

NBA @NBA

Josh Giddey dished out a career-high 17 assists tonight in the Thunder W ⛈️ 17 PTS, 11 REB, 17 AST He's the youngest player in NBA history to drop a 15+ AST triple-double 👀

Matt Steinmetz @SteinmetzNBA

The Warriors can’t defend, don’t defend or won’t defend. Nothing else matters.

This isn’t breaking news to anyone with eyeballs and an internet connection, but the Warriors are struggling mightily with their defensive presence on the road right now.

In fairness, currently the champs are ranked 15th in defensive rating overall, which considering there’s 30 teams in the NBA isn’t THAT bad considering how many times they’ve been lit up this season. That’s superior to the Mavericks and Kings, two teams who look pretty sure to make the playoffs in the Wild Wild West.

But filtering that data for how the Warriors’ defense is on the road…goodness gracious they plummet all the way down to 28th ranked, barely above the sleepy San Antonio Spurs and moribund Houston Rockets.

For comparison, the Warriors had the fourth ranked road defense last year when they won the title. Last year the Dubs were traveling around and strangling offenses out like the killer in some terrifying Netflix documentary. Now they’re getting ran through like carpool lanes, much to the roaring glee of opposing crowds. Last night you woulda thought OKC had won a championship the way those long suffering fans were rocking as the Dubs’ defense melted like butter on a hot skillet.

Warriors on NBCS @NBCSWarriors

Steph is confident in the Dubs but frustrated the results aren't there on the road

The Dubs definitely have a bottom three road record in the West, but can you guess how many teams have a winning road record in the conference? Two! The Nuggets (16-15) and the Kings (18-13). Most teams in the West are having issue winning on the road, just not as bad as Golden State.

Only Andrew Wiggins can save them now…can’t wait till he gets back!