The Thunder overcame the Warriors for a surprising Game 1 victory, but it didn't come without some controversy in the postgame interview.
Oklahoma City handed Golden State a 108-102 loss Monday night to take a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference finals best-of-seven series.
After the game, Thunder center Steven Adams referred to the Warriors' guards as "quick little monkeys," a comment that many people found offensive.
Steven Adams chooses the wrong words to describe the Warriors' guards. "They're quick little monkeys," he says. pic.twitter.com/ss5DbHilqD
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) May 17, 2016
Adams, 22, is a New Zealander of Tongan and British descent and said afterward that the difference in culture and dialect caused his slip-up. The center came to America in 2012 to attend the University of Pittsburgh and he quickly apologized for his comments.
"It was just a poor choice of words, mate," Adams told USA Today Sports. "I wasn't thinking straight. I didn't know it was going to upset anyone, but I'm truly sorry. It was just a poor choice of words. I was just trying to express how difficult it was chasing those guys around."
Adams had 16 points and a team-high 12 rebounds in the opening game of the series. He averaged just eight points per game in the regular season.
The New Zealand native appeared contrite when addressing the issue.
"It's just different, mate," he said. "Different words, different expressions, and stuff like that. But they obviously can be taken differently, depending on which country you're in. I'm assimilating, mate, still trying to figure out the boundaries. But I definitely overstepped them tonight."
In Game 1, Russell Westbrook paved the way for the Thunder, putting up team-highs in points (27), assists (12), steals (7) and blocks (2).
Game 2 tips off Wednesday back at Oracle Arena in California.
