The start of this NBA season may be the first time in a while that some are thinking it may be time for the Golden State Warriors to step aside. Two teams that hope to step in to that spot earned statement victories on Thursday night, and we'll start at Oracle Arena with the defending two-time champs. It was the Milwaukee Bucks who dominated Oracle Arena on this night, as they took advantage of Steph Curry exiting early for a 134-111 victory over the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors were also playing without Draymond Green, as they saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end on their home floor.
Eric Bledsoe led the Bucks with 26 points, as they shot 51 percent from the floor and took over with a 41-point third quarter. where Bledsoe had seven straight points. Giannis Antetokoumpo finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, helping the Bucks hand the Warriors their first home loss of the season. Curry left the game with a strained adductor muscle in his left leg and will not play in Saturday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. He finished with 10 points and six assists over 26 minutes in his second straight game under 20 points after scoring at least 23 in every game to begin the season before then.
Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 24 points, while Kevin Durant had 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. The 134 points are the most points given up at home in the Steve Kerr era for the Warriors, as they dropped to 10-2 on the year. Malcolm Brogdon chipped in with 20 points and Khris Middleton had 17 for the now 9-2 Bucks.
Staying in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder clearly don't need Russell Westbrook to quickly turn their season around, which they have after an 0-4 start. The Thunder won their seventh straight game on Thursday over the struggling Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center, 98-80. Paul George led the Thunder with 20 points, as they were playing without Westbrook for a second straight game due to a sprained left ankle.
The Thunder have somehow won both games without their star point guard, and they can thank their defense for that. One game after holding the Cleveland Cavaliers to 37 percent shooting, they held the Rockets to 38 percent, and George led the defensive charge as well with six steals. It was the fifth time in the past seven games that the Rockets failed to reach 100 points, as they shot just 11-of-42 from three-point range. James Harden was held to 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting, which led the Rockets, while Clint Capela added 17 points in their sixth loss.
Steven Adams had a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Dennis Schorder and Terrance Ferguson had 14 points apiece for the Thunder, who shot 53 percent in the first half for a 14-point halftime lead. Houston was also missing a key component, as Eric Gordon missed his third straight game with a strained muscle in his right thigh. The struggling team that nearly made the Finals a season ago will visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The Thunder look to stay hot when they visit the lowly Dallas Mavericks that same night.
Eric Bledsoe led the Bucks with 26 points, as they shot 51 percent from the floor and took over with a 41-point third quarter. where Bledsoe had seven straight points. Giannis Antetokoumpo finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, helping the Bucks hand the Warriors their first home loss of the season. Curry left the game with a strained adductor muscle in his left leg and will not play in Saturday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. He finished with 10 points and six assists over 26 minutes in his second straight game under 20 points after scoring at least 23 in every game to begin the season before then.
Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 24 points, while Kevin Durant had 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. The 134 points are the most points given up at home in the Steve Kerr era for the Warriors, as they dropped to 10-2 on the year. Malcolm Brogdon chipped in with 20 points and Khris Middleton had 17 for the now 9-2 Bucks.
Staying in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder clearly don't need Russell Westbrook to quickly turn their season around, which they have after an 0-4 start. The Thunder won their seventh straight game on Thursday over the struggling Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center, 98-80. Paul George led the Thunder with 20 points, as they were playing without Westbrook for a second straight game due to a sprained left ankle.
The Thunder have somehow won both games without their star point guard, and they can thank their defense for that. One game after holding the Cleveland Cavaliers to 37 percent shooting, they held the Rockets to 38 percent, and George led the defensive charge as well with six steals. It was the fifth time in the past seven games that the Rockets failed to reach 100 points, as they shot just 11-of-42 from three-point range. James Harden was held to 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting, which led the Rockets, while Clint Capela added 17 points in their sixth loss.
Steven Adams had a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Dennis Schorder and Terrance Ferguson had 14 points apiece for the Thunder, who shot 53 percent in the first half for a 14-point halftime lead. Houston was also missing a key component, as Eric Gordon missed his third straight game with a strained muscle in his right thigh. The struggling team that nearly made the Finals a season ago will visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The Thunder look to stay hot when they visit the lowly Dallas Mavericks that same night.
