The path to the NBA Summer League playoffs was simple for the Golden State Warriors: Win and in.
In a back-and-forth game, the Warriors staved off a strong effort from the Oklahoma City Thunder, beating the winless Western Conference squad 90-83 to advance to the NBA Summer League semifinals. Golden State will play the top-seeded Miami Heat on Sunday.
Pat Spencer led the Warriors with 17 points and seven assists. Summer League standout Daeqwon Plowden had 13 points and Kevin Knox II added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“I think we’re playing the right way,” Spencer told NBA TV in a postgame interview. “It’s very easy to come out here in summer league and can try to showcase some one-on-one opportunities, but we feel like when we move the ball and play the right way everybody eats. Not too many teams are moving the rock, cutting at the right times and playing the game the right way, so we value that.”
After a slow start to the first quarter, the Warriors found their rhythm in the second.
Jolted by the playmaking of Spencer, Golden State led by as much as 11 in the second quarter. But the Thunder’s offense took advantage of some defensive miscues to end the first half on a 8-0 run and stay within striking distance.
Spencer had 10 points and four assists to lead the Warriors after the first two quarters. Hunter Maldonado led Oklahoma City with 14 points.
The Thunder had one of their better shooting quarters in the third, but the Warriors defense kept them ahead.
Kevin Knox II’s two-handed slam made the score 52-44 with four minutes left. Oklahoma City briefly cut the Golden State lead to one with under a minute remaining in the quarter, but Spencer finished period strong. He on a 5-0 run of his own to end the quarter, which was capped off with a steal and last-second fast break layup.
Both teams played even throughout the fourth quarter.
With under three minutes left, the Thunder looked like they were going to take their first lead of the game since the opening minutes when Malevy Leons had what looked to be an easy transition layup after he stripped Ethan Thompson. But Plowden came racing from behind to block Leons’ layup attempt to keep the Golden State lead at 80-79.
Oklahoma City tied the game with free throws late, but the Warriors made just enough plays to pull away.
With the score even at 80, Yuri Collins hit a left-wing 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 83-80 lead. Two possessions later, Plowden made another athletic play, this time slamming a put back with just over a minute left. The dagger came when Jackson Rowe knocked down a corner 3-pointer on a drive-and-kick pass from Spencer, making the score 88-83 with 55 seconds remaining.
Golden State remains undefeated in Summer League play. The Warriors are 4-0 in Las Vegas and recently went 3-0 in the California Classic earlier this month.
The last time the Warriors won a Summer League championship was in 2013 – a team that featured Draymond Green, Kent Bazemore and Ian Clark.
Rookie Quinten Post played well in his first game as a Warrior in limited minutes.
He showed his ability to stretch the floor when he scored his first basket on a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the top of the key on a feed from Spencer.
He ended Friday’s game with 10 points and three rebounds in 14 minutes. He went 2 for 4 from beyond the arc.
Post missed Golden State’s first six games, ramping up from a minor leg injury.
