National Basketball Association

Marreese Speights scores 28 to lead Warriors over Thunder

Published Nov. 24, 2014 12:32 a.m. ET

foxsports

Golden State sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson couldn't find the hoop, and the injury-depleted Thunder were giving the Warriors all they could handle.

Journeyman forward Marreese Speights came to the rescue, scoring 28 points to help the Warriors beat Oklahoma City 91-86 on Sunday night. It matched the second-highest scoring game of Speights' career and was his best total since 2009.

''Speights, again, was ridiculous,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''He carried the load for us offensively when we needed it.''

Speights had averaged 17 points the previous three games on 64 percent shooting. It's gotten to the point where his teammates are no longer surprised when he goes off.

''He's getting an opportunity and playing confident and showcasing what he can do,'' Curry said. ''It says a lot about him that he stayed ready, being in and out of the rotation early in the season.''

Thompson scored 20 points and Curry added 15 for the Warriors (10-2), who won despite shooting a season-low 35.5 percent from the field. Thompson and Curry, two of the top 10 scorers in the league, combined to make just 11 of 35 shots.

Reggie Jackson had 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Anthony Morrow added 16 points and matched a career high with 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Serge Ibaka scored 16 points, but shot just 5 of 17 for the Thunder (3-13), who lost their sixth in a row.

Curry was fouled with 16 seconds left and the Warriors up by two. Curry, who had made 47 of his first 49 free throws this season, missed the first and made the second to give Golden State an 89-86 lead.

Jackson drove and found Andre Roberson, who missed everything on an open 3-pointer.

''I was looking to attack the basket,'' Jackson said. ''I think they got a little mixed up. Steph came to take a charge and Andre was wide open, so we made the right play, trusted him to make the shot and unfortunately, it didn't go in.''

Thompson was fouled and made two free throws with 5.7 seconds remaining to put away the game.

Late in the second quarter, Jackson was fouled on a drive and right-handed dunk, and he made the free throw to cut what had been a 10-point Warriors lead to two. Thompson responded with a 3-pointer, and Golden State led 52-47 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the second half until 9:12 remained in the third quarter, and the first field goal came with 7:31 left in the period.

A reverse layup and a floater by Jackson tied the game at 65. The Thunder took their first lead on a free throw by Morrow after a technical foul against Kerr. A three-point play by Speights with 2.5 seconds left in the third quarter gave the Warriors a 70-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

TIP-INS

Thunder: Jackson, who has been forced to play huge minutes because of Russell Westbrook's broken right hand, entered the game leading the NBA in minutes played. He played 36 minutes on Sunday night. ... Coach Scott Brooks was issued a technical foul in the first quarter.

Warriors: Kerr said the team might get David Lee (strained left hamstring) back by the end of their current road trip, which concludes Nov. 30 at Detroit. Lee last played on Nov. 5. ... The Warriors made 7 of 15 3s in the first half, but missed all 10 in the second half. ... Center Andrew Bogut left the game in the first quarter with a right orbital contusion and did not return. Guard Leandro Barbosa left the game with a right knee sprain and did not return.

SHAKY SHOOTING

The teams shot equally poorly through three quarters. Both teams made 18 of 46 shots in the first half and 25 of 69 shots through three quarters, meaning both made just 7 of 23 in the third quarter.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

''It was the best win of the year,'' Kerr said. ''It was the ugliest game, but the best win.''