Kerr calls Iguodala "unsung hero" in Warriors" Game 6 win

Inside The NBA: Warriors vs Thunder - Game 6 Analysis | May 28, 2016 | 2016 NBA Playoffs

Photo: J Pat Carter, Getty Images

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half in game six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 28, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) less OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half in game six of the Western Conference Finals during ... more Photo: J Pat Carter, Getty Images

Andre Iguodala had three steals in the final three mintues of Game 6, helping hold Russel Westbrook and Kevin Durant scoreless during that critical stretch.

Andre Iguodala had three steals in the final three mintues of Game 6, helping hold Russel Westbrook and Kevin Durant scoreless during that critical stretch.

Photo: Maddie Meyer, Getty Images Andre Iguodala (9) calls out a play in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Saturday, May 28, 2016. less Andre Iguodala (9) calls out a play in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Andre Iguodala (9) defends against a shot by Kevin Durant (35) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Saturday, May 28, 2016. less Andre Iguodala (9) defends against a shot by Kevin Durant (35) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Andre Iguodala (9) defends against a shot by Kevin Durant (35) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Saturday, May 28, 2016. less Andre Iguodala (9) defends against a shot by Kevin Durant (35) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Andre Iguodala defends against Russell Westbrook in the second half of the Warriors victory in Game 6.

Andre Iguodala defends against Russell Westbrook in the second half of the Warriors victory in Game 6.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Andre Iguodala (9) and Harrison Barnes (40) box out Serge Ibaka (9) from a rebound in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Saturday, May 28, 2016. less Andre Iguodala (9) and Harrison Barnes (40) box out Serge Ibaka (9) from a rebound in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at ... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Andre Iguodala (9) pats Stephen Curry (30) on the head after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-101 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Saturday, May 28, 2016.

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Andre Iguodala (9) pats Stephen Curry (30) on the head after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-101 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in

... more Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 28: Dion Waiters #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles as Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors defends him during the first half in game six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 28, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) less OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 28: Dion Waiters #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles as Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors defends him during the first half in game six of the Western Conference ... more Photo: Maddie Meyer, Getty Images

Kerr calls Iguodala unsung hero in Warriors Game 6 win

Andre Iguodala is always a calming influence for the Warriors.

In Saturday nights Game 6, he managed to completely fluster the Oklahoma City Thunder on their home court.

Iguodala channeled the 2015 NBA Finals MVP version of himself in the closing minutes of the Warriors 108-101 victory, a win that tied the Western Conference finals 3-3 and sent the series back to Oakland for Mondays Game 7.

I thought Andre Iguodala was kind of the unsung hero, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. Andre made some huge defensive plays down the stretch to give us a chance.

Iguodalas impact was all over the Warriors 9-0, game-closing run.

With 2:06 remaining, he swooped in for a nifty, left-handed layup that tied it 101-101. After stealing the ball from Russell Westbrook, Iguodala fired an outlet pass to Klay Thompson, who knocked down the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:35 left.

The teams traded back-to-back empty possessions, and then Iguodala came up with another steal. He got the ball to Stephen Curry for the game-clinching runner in the final 15 seconds.

Andre is one of the smartest, not only basketball players, but hes an incredibly smart human being, Kerr said. He sees everything kind of before it happens, and hes blessed with great speed, length and strength. Theres a reason hes been one of the leagues best defenders for a long time.

Hes really a key part every game for us, because we ask him to do so much.

Iguodala split his time defending Oklahoma Citys superstar scorers, Kevin Durant and Westbrook. The usually dynamic duo connected on only 34.5 percent of their 58 shots from the field and went 1-for-13 from three-point range.

Youve got to make these guys work, Iguodala said in a postgame TV interview. Kevin Durant, in my opinion, is one of the top two scorers in the world. Were in a league where the advantage is to the scorer, so hes going to make some tough shots, hes going to take a lot of shots, hes going to be comfortable all of the time and hes going to get to the foul line.

Youve just got to keep plugging away.

Playing 38 minutes, including starting in place of Harrison Barnes in the second half, Iguodala had eight points, seven rebounds and three steals.

In the games closing 126 seconds, he had two points, two steals and an assist.

Hes the best defensive player Ive ever played with and Ive ever seen, Thompson said.

Thats enough to make opponents panic.

Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: Rusty_SFChron

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Kerr-calls-Iguodala-unsung-hero-in-7951802.php