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Golden State Warriors: 5 Keys To Game 6 vs. Thunder

By Gerald Bourguet

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the fourth quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the fourth quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Golden State Warriors have forced a Game 6, but they need another win to keep their season alive. Here are the 5 biggest keys to winning in OKC and forcing a Game 7 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals.

Golden State Warriors
May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the fourth quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

In Game 5 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, the Golden State Warriors did what they needed to. It wasn’t pretty, nor was it convincing, but the Dubs avoiding elimination in the face of a 3-1 series deficit, forcing a Game 6 back on the road.

Now comes the hard part: Winning a second straight elimination game in a building where the Warriors have lost both games in this series by a combined 52 points.

So far, the Oklahoma City Thunder have largely dominated this series. Russell Westbrook has outplayed MVP Stephen Curry, Draymond Green has mostly looked like a shell of his former self, the threes haven’t been falling and the Warriors now face their toughest test in the last two years.

Facing the prospect of their historic 73-win season coming to an end without a championship, the Dubs now have to play their best basketball yet in Game 6 and conquer a peaking Thunder team playing in front of its roaring home crowd.

If this series goes to a Game 7, anything can happen. But in order for it to get there, here’s what the Golden State Warriors must do to win Game 6.

Honorable Mention:  Avoiding fouls. The discrepancy in free throw attempts between these two teams has often been the indicator between victory and defeat: +19 in the two wins, -32 in the three losses.

Next: No. 5

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