Enter Gary Payton II, who received the ball from a driving Dennis Schröder and got all the way up, slamming down a thunderous dunk on OKC center Isaiah Hartenstein to extend the Warriors’ lead to nine points with just over a minute to play. The dunk got the entire Golden State bench on its feet, and sent the crowd into hysterics.

Dennis Schröder and Brandin Podziemski combined to score 43 points in Steph Curry’s absence during the Golden State Warriors’ win Tuesday night..

BOTTOM LINE: Dennis Schroder and the Golden State Warriors host Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder in Western Conference play. The Warriors are 16-15 in conference play. Golden State has a 3-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Golden State Warriors edged out the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-116 at Chase Center. Steph Curry returned but faced initial struggles, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shined with 52 points for the Thunder.

Gary Payton II credits Denis Schroeder while joking about his recent lack of highlight plays after last night's dunk on Isaiah Hartenstein.

The Golden State Warriors’ 116-109 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder was all about coach Steve Kerr’s trusted veterans.

The Knicks and Nuggets are surging, while the Warriors watch their window close. Meanwhile, the Cavs and Thunder have their business on lock.

Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II made the Chase Center feel like old times Wednesday night. Was it their last hurrah?

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a frustrating 116-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 52 points weren't enough as OKC's offense dried up in the second half.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the midst of a battle on the road against the Golden State Warriors-- a tough environment for any team to play in. The Draymond Green-less Warriors scored just 20 points in the first quarter,

The Thunder and Cavaliers continue to earn straight A's, while the Pelicans and Wizards may need to stay after school.