Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is leading the youngest team in the NBA this season, with an average age of just 24.148 years. As the core of the team gains experience, Daigneault mentioned that preparing for players like Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has become easier.
The Thunder and Warriors are set to face off on Sunday in Oklahoma City, in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Stephen Curry has been averaging 19.7 points and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 40.8 percent from 3-point range. He has scored 21.0 points per game in his last three games after missing the previous three due to a left ankle injury.
For Golden State, Sunday’s game marks the end of a five-game road trip. The Warriors are 3-1 so far on the trip but are coming off a 136-117 blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, trailing by 41 points at halftime.
This loss was a rare slip for the Warriors, who entered Saturday ranked second in the NBA in defensive rating at 106.5 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Thunder lead the league in this category, at 97.3 points per 100 possessions.
Both teams excel defensively, ranking near the top in steals per game, with Oklahoma City averaging an NBA-best 12.9 and Golden State third at 9.8. The Thunder also lead the league with 7.3 blocks per game, while the Warriors average 6.0.
Golden State leads the league with 22.0 points off turnovers per game, while the Thunder are tied for fourth at 20.3.
Oklahoma City is coming off a 126-107 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday in the opener of a six-game homestand. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, led the Thunder with 29 points and currently averages 26.3 points and 6.4 assists per game.
The Thunder are 4-0 at home this season, winning by an average of 17.8 points per game.
The primary difference between these two teams lies in their offensive styles. Oklahoma City leads the league in drives per game with 62.1 and has topped this category for the past four seasons. Despite their aggressive play, they draw just 19.1 free throw attempts per game, the third-fewest in the league.
Golden State, on the other hand, averages just 37.3 drives per game, more than only two other teams. The Warriors take 41.1 3-pointers per game, slightly more than the Thunder’s 39.2 attempts.
Sunday’s game is the first of three meetings between the teams this season. The Thunder won three out of four matchups last season.
