Golden State Warriors: Top 10 moments from 2017-18 NBA season

5. Game 4 victory in NOLA puts the series out of reach

Up 2-1 in their second-round series with the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State was in command in Game 4, but that control was beginning to slip away.

The Pelicans had taken Game 3 by 19 points, giving them the opportunity to tie up the series on their home court in Game 4, assuring the series would return to New Orleans while building momentum for a crucial Game 5.

Such momentum would never come, as the Warriors came out swinging in a wire-to-wire victory, 118-92.

Durant led the team with 38 points, spurred on by a late night text from Draymond the night before.

"“In short, [Green] said don’t worry about s— else but playing with force and being aggressive,” Durant said. “And I tried to do that as much as possible today. I wasn’t aggressive in Game 3, and I knew that. It’s good to know that teammates got your back. It was good to hear that from him.”"

Had the series been tied at two, Golden State still would’ve been favored, although it would take a lot more energy and willpower, something that’s in limited supply after three straight Finals runs, making the team more vulnerable than in years past.

Even so, the Warriors have proven capable of flipping the switch when necessary, and in a game that could swing the series in either direction, it was one they wanted to get.

Mission accomplished.