Curry leads Warriors past OKC with 3rd quarter explosion

Once Stephen Curry finally gathered himself and got up following a scary first-quarter dive into the stands, everybody inside Oracle Area could take a breath, sit back and watch the MVP put on a spectacular shooting show.

Curry scored 15 straight points in less than two minutes during one dazzling third-quarter stretch, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 on Wednesday night to even the Western Conference finals at one game apiece.

"Business as usual. This is what he does," coach Steve Kerr said, before being asked how he feels during such a Curry onslaught and responding with a chuckle: "I feel great joy. It's true."

The MVP scored 28 points, making five of eight three-pointers and shooting nine for 15 overall, while Klay Thompson added 15 points in a balanced performance by the defending champions to bounce back from just their third defeat all season at Oracle Arena in the series opener two nights earlier.

"We responded all year long whether it was a bad loss or a sloppy win," Thompson said. "We come back sharp the next game, and it's a testament to everybody on this team."

Kevin Durant scored 29 points but just six after halftime. Russell Westbrook had 16 points and 12 assists for the Thunder, who were outrebounded for the first time in five meetings with the Warriors this season.

"They were sending three guys. I was trying to make the right pass," Durant said. "Maybe I've just got to shoot over three people."

Game 3 is Sunday night in Oklahoma City.

Curry's 2 min flurry

Durant provided a big assist during Curry's flurry. He fouled the superstar point guard on a three-point attempt with six minutes and 33 seconds to go in the third, then swatted his hand in disgust at the call and received a technical — a costly four-point play. While Durant hit a fadeaway jumper moments later, Curry answered by knocking down consecutive long shots, one a three, to make it 76-59 with five minutes and 47 seconds to go in the third.

NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala brought some timely pizazz off the bench. He missed his first five field-goal tries before a beautiful double-clutch, no-look layup in the final minute of the first half and then another basket the next time down that put the Warriors up 57-49 at halftime. He wound up with 14 points for his fourth double-digit scoring performance of the post-season.

Festus Ezeli scored 12 points for his first game in double digits these playoffs, Marreese Speights had 13 points off the bench, and Golden State didn't falter after halftime the way it did two nights earlier in losing Game 1 108-102. The Warriors built a 20-point lead late in the third and kept pushing.

We responded all year long whether it was a bad loss or a sloppy win. We come back sharp the next game, and it's a testament to everybody on this team.- Klay Thompson -Warriors guard 

It was a stark contrast from Monday, when Golden State allowed 38 in the third-quarter and was held to playoff lows of 42 second-half points and 14 in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City's 14-point comeback in Game 1 was the largest against the Warriors this post-season.

Curry said he couldn't wait for another chance after dropping the series opener for the first time since 2013. Then, he took out any remaining frustrations from Monday's loss on the Thunder.

"Tonight, started off with a nice punch and I was able to sustain it over the course of the game," Curry said. "When I get open shots obviously the confidence is there to knock them down. It's been like that since I've been back. My body's catching up and I think I'm there."