17 May 2016

OKC go one up over Golden State

4:25 pm on 17 May 2016

The Oklahoma City Thunder have beaten the defending NBA champions the Golden State Warriors 108-102 in the opening match of the Western Conference finals in Oakland.

Steven Adams and his Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Enes Kanter.

Steven Adams and his Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Enes Kanter. Photo: AFP

Golden State dominated the first half of the match with Oklahoma finally coming to life in the second half.

New Zealand's Steven Adams had a strong night with another double-double scoring 16 points and taking 12 rebounds but told ESPN Oklahoma City didn't have a strong game offensively.

"If you are talking about making shots then probably not, I haven't looked at the stats sheet but probably not our best night.

"I felt like we made quite a few strides in our defense and how to guard these guys (Golden State) and that's all that matters."

Steven Adams wrestles the ball off Golden State center Andrew Bogut.

Steven Adams wrestles the ball off Golden State center Andrew Bogut. Photo: AFP

Adams said he always believed the Thunder could pull the match back even when they were down by 14 points in the first half.

"Whatever the outcome is is determined by how hard we come out and I felt that we came out asserted our aggressiveness and came out on top."

Adams' teammate Russell Westbrook was the top scorer in the match, he made 27 points as well as 12 assists and seven steals.

Westbrook's opposite, the NBA's two-time MVP, Stephen Curry, made 26 points of his own along with 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Game two in the best of seven series is on Thursday.