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12/22/2024 08:19:05 pm

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NBA Western Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors Versus Oklahoma City Thunder Game 7 Preview

Stephen Curry

(Photo : gettyimages.com) Stephen Curry would be expected to power the Warriors to victory in Game 7 of their postseason tie against the Thunder.

The league's defending champions Golden State Warriors will host Oklahoma City Thunder for the last and final game of their best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series at the Oracle Arena on Monday evening.

The series is currently tied at 3-all following the Warriors' fourth-quarter comeback in their 108-101 Game 6 triumph against the Thunder on Saturday at the Chesapeake Energy Center. A Golden State victory would mean another milestone for the Oakland-based 2015 NBA champion team, by becoming the 10th club to comeback from a 3-1 postseason deficit.

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"I've learned that our players are tough, they're mentally tough," Coach Steve Kerr said. "I don't know if I really learned that. I already knew that. But they've firmly confirmed that. It's been a great comeback. Now we still have to play. We still have another game."

The Thunder and Warriors will be playing their first Game 7 in this postseason. The Thunder, who last appeared in the league's championship round in 2012, reached the conference finals by beating Dallas Mavericks in the First-Round with five games (4-1) and San Antonio Spurs in the semifinals with six games (4-2). Meanwhile, the Warriors defeated both Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers in five games (4-1).

"We lost Game 6, and it was a tough, hard-fought game," Thunder's Head Coach Billy Donovan said. "We're disappointed about not having a different outcome. But we haven't lost the series, and we have an opportunity again. I think just being around these guys, they're a resilient group."

With the series shifting back to the Bay Area, the Thunder will be in a tough situation as the Warriors have only been beaten thrice in the entire season at home. Oklahoma City is one of the teams that beat the Warriors at home this season.

The winner of the Warriors-Thunder Game 7 will qualify for an NBA Finals showdown with back-to-back Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Cavaliers, who eliminated the Toronto Raptors.

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