OKLAHOMA CITY — Andre Iguodala registered one of the most memorable, clutch defensive performances in Western Conference finals history. Yet, he doesn’t consider it his best defensive performance.

Saturday, he harassed Kevin Durant into 10-for-31 shooting, Phase I in the Warriors’ timely defensive stand. Then down the stretch of Game 6, after Klay Thompson carried the Warriors with unconscious shooting, Iguodala set the stage for Stephen Curry to finish off the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Twice in the final 1:40, he stripped Durant as he rose for a shot, then did the same to Russell Westbrook twice. Two of the most potent offensive weapons in the NBA, who in making one huge shot could have stemmed Oklahoma City’s unraveling, proved no match for Iguodala’s impeccable timing and positioning.

His pressure forced a Durant turnover that led to Curry’s game-tying 3-pointer. His quick, strong hands started the break that produced Thompson’s go-ahead bomb, and the inevitable questions about the clutchness of the Thunder’s star duo.

Iguodala, the NBA Finals MVP who coaxed LeBron James into a model of inefficiency last June, registered another defensive gem. It wasn’t his favorite, though. That came way back on Nov. 11, 2005.

“Kobe in his prime,” Iguodala said while hiding from the throng of reporters, preferring his teammates get the attention after Game 6.

Iguodala, then in his second season with Philadelphia, drew the assignment of checking Kobe Bryant. Young and spry, at the peak of his athleticism, Iguodala was all over the Lakers star in the 76ers’ win.

Kobe finished with 17 points on 7-for-27 shooting, a big deal since he is from Philly.

“It was on the front page of the paper,” Iguodala said. “After the game, Phil Jackson said it was the best he’d seen someone defend Kobe.”

That performance holds sentimental value for Iguodala as he thwarted one of the greatest ever. Saturday, he thwarted a future Hall of Famer in Durant, maybe a second in Westbrook, in a game that will be sentimental for millions of Warriors fans.

And it was the latest piece of evidence about why Iguodala is so vital to this team that is now, including playoffs, 167-34 under coach Steve Kerr.

Oklahoma City once looked so formidable, Durant so unstoppable, yet Iguodala turned him into a liability. Kerr started Iguodala for the second half, in place of Harrison Barnes, to turn up the heat on Durant. And Iguodala came through like he always has, and like never before.

The Warriors were keenly aware Durant had taken 19 shots in the first half, making just six. And they were betting the former MVP and four-time scoring champion would try to put the Warriors away. But even Durant’s arms get tired. And with Iguodala on him — playing the percentages and angles, using his instincts and IQ to make Durant work harder — Durant had no rhythm.

“He just sees everything kind of before it happens,” Kerr said of Iguodala, “and he’s blessed with great speed and length and strength. So there’s a reason he’s been one of the best defenders in the league for a long time. He’s really a key part of every game for us, because we ask him to do so much.”

In the fourth quarter, the Warriors found their rhythm on both ends and finally looked like the team they had been all year. Oklahoma City managed only 18 points on 26.3 percent shooting — in its own building. Iguodala matched Durant nearly minute for minute in the second half, and Durant was 4-for-12 with three turnovers.

Because they had Iguodala on Durant, the Warriors knew he would have to work, and they were fine with whatever Durant produced. Ditto for Thompson on Westbrook in most cases, and he handled the Thunder’s other superstar.

That allowed the others to stay home on the Thunder’s supporting cast. Because that’s what was killing the Warriors. They aren’t fazed much by big numbers from Durant and Westbrook, whose production is nearly automatic. The Warriors can live with 30 each from those two. What hurts the Warriors is when 50 points come from the supporting cast.

When the Warriors lost in this series, it was because Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, Andre Roberson and Dion Waiters had good games. Part of that was because Kerr’s plan to play off of Roberson, a poor shooter, didn’t work so well. The Thunder adjusted, turned Roberson into a cutter instead of a spot-up shooter, and the Warriors wound up scrambling as several players juggled multiple assignments.

Their trust in Iguodala allowed them to change their approach. They made sure to have Draymond Green or Andrew Bogut ready to help on Durant’s drives. The whole unit is ready to clog the paint on Durant and Westbrook drives. But mostly, Game 6 was Iguodala alone trying to stop Durant from being great. And now he has to do it again in Game 7.

Iguodala is hoping the next meeting doesn’t go like it did after his favorite defensive performance.

When the 76ers came to Los Angeles later that 2005-06 season, Kobe came by the Philadelphia locker room. Iguodala wasn’t in there, but Kobe left a message.

“Tell Andre 50 tonight,” Iguodala said, recalling the message relayed to him. “You know how much he got — 48.”

Read Marcus Thompson II’s blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/thompson. Contact him at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him at twitter.com/ThompsonScribe.