Programming note: Thunder-Warriors coverage starts tonight at 7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and streaming live right here
OAKLAND -- The Warriors' cloak of invincibility at home gets its second consecutive serious test Monday night, when the Oklahoma City Thunder visit Oracle Arena.
The Warriors (26-5) are 13-1 in their building, including the last 11 in a row, and they are coming off perhaps their most impressive performance, a 126-105 lashing of the Raptors last Friday night.
Oklahoma City's record (17-17) is deceptive insofar as it spent the first month of the season without reigning MVP Kevin Durant and fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook. Both are back and healthy. They are 9-1 when both are healthy remained in the lineup.
OPENING LINE
Warriors by 3.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala vs. Kevin Durant -- All three Warriors won't defend KD at the same time, but they wouldn't be guaranteed success if they did. Each will draw the assignment at different times, but each will need considerable support from his teammates against the reigning MVP.
Stephen Curry vs. Russell Westbrook -- Like Durant, Westbrook is too much for most any single defender. Curry will get his chances, but fellow guard Klay Thompson also will see plenty of Westbrook. Curry will get plenty of opportunities to go after Westbrook, who is a surprisingly good defender when engaged.
KEYS TO VICTORY
1) Defend until the end -- OKC is that rare team capable of winning with two primary scorers. Defend those two with such ferocity that they look around for a third.
2) Pound the glass -- The Warriors, particularly the bigs, will have their work cut out for them against an OKC squad that is No. 2 in the league in rebounding differential.
3) Crush the bench -- Among Western Conference contenders, only the Rockets have a less proficient bench than the Thunder. The Warriors must exploit that weakness.
QUOTABLE
"It's great to measure yourselves against a team like that. They're one of the best interior defending teams in the league, and we're one of the best scoring teams. So something's got to give." – Klay Thompson
LAST 10
Warriors 7-3. Thunder 6-4.
INJURY UPDATE
Warriors: C Andrew Bogut (chondromalacia and bone edema, right knee) and C Festus Ezeli (sprained left ankle) are listed as out.
Thunder: F Mitch McGary (left tibia inflammation) is listed as out.
SERIES HISTORY
After losing 15 of the previous 21 matchups entering this season, the Warriors have won both meetings this season and are seeking their first series victory since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2009.
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