OKLAHOMA CITY — Blowouts have not been uncommon in these N.B.A. playoffs. But when a record-setting 73-victory team loses in the way the Golden State Warriors did Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena, it must be asked if the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 133-105 trouncing of the defending champions in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals might psychologically be worth more than one win.

At the very least, the Warriors know how the San Antonio Spurs felt by the conclusion of their second-round series, sensing that a transformative fulfillment of potential at the season’s most propitious stage has seized hold of the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook-led Thunder.

The Warriors faced a two-games-to-one deficit last season in the second round against Memphis and again in the finals against Cleveland. But the Thunder appear to be growing as they go. With Sunday night’s all-out assault, they set up a pivotal Game 4 on Tuesday night; another home-court victory would put the Warriors on the brink of elimination.

Durant and Westbrook were dominant, scoring 33 and 30 points, with Westbrook adding 12 assists and 8 rebounds.