Golden State Warriors opened their NBA championship defence with a 108-100 win over Oklahoma City Thunder but star man Steph Curry feels they need to up their game further if they are to complete an historic ‘three-peat’.

GSW have managed three titles in four years and have won the last two championships in a row. The Warriors looked to be on course for a comfortable victory but Thunder fought back in the third quarter and took the lead at one stage.

Curry was satisfied with the performance but says Golden State must up their game if they are to join the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls as three-peat winners.

“Defensive focus on the little things, player’s tendencies and not turning the ball over,” he told NBA on TNT when asked how the Warriors can improve.

“That’s something that has haunted us forever so we’ve got to take care of the ball, make sure our talent can do stuff on the ball with possessions and that will come with more experience throughout the season.

“We know what’s at stake [this season]. A championship is something that we focus on every year but we know what that would mean in terms of joining a very exclusive list of teams winning three in a row.

“We’re not shy about talking about it but you have to do the little stuff throughout the course of a season to prepare yourself for how tough this Western Conference is going to be. I think we’re ready for it.”

Golden State are 1.53 to win the NBA Finals, while Western Conference rivals Houston Rockets and the Lakers can be backed at 9.00 and 13.00 respectively.