Stephen Curry scored 50 factors in a record-shattering efficiency on Sunday (Monday AEST) to ship the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second spherical of the NBA playoffs.
Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was practically unstoppable because the Warriors gained 120-100 at Sacramento to seize their best-of-seven recreation Western Conference sequence 4-3.
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“I just wanted to come out and look for shots early, get my teammates going throughout the game,” Curry stated. “But when I’m looking for shots, it usually works in our favour.”
The 35-year-old guard delivered an unimaginable efficiency, hitting 20 of a career-high 38 shot makes an attempt and going 7-of-18 from 3-point vary and 3-of-5 from the free throw line.
He additionally added eight rebounds and 6 assists.
Curry’s 50 factors have been a profession playoff excessive and essentially the most factors in any NBA recreation seven – breaking the outdated mark of 48 set by Kevin Durant for Brooklyn in a 2021 loss to Milwaukee.
Curry’s efficiency prompted outstanding US sports activities commentator Stephen A Smith to recommend the Golden State star might be “the greatest point guard to ever live”.
The Warriors subsequent will face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semi-final matchup that begins on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
“They are playing unbelievable,” Curry stated. “All their pieces fit so it’s going to be a huge test for us.
“Thank God we get to worry about that because these last 36 hours were a little dicey,” added Curry, whose Warriors missed an opportunity to shut out the Kings in recreation six.
In Sunday’s different playoff contest, Jimmy Butler scored 25 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds to steer Miami over the host New York Knicks 108-101 of their Eastern Conference second-round opener, but additionally picked up a proper ankle harm.
The sequence continues on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) at New York, however Butler’s standing will steal the highlight till then.
“No idea,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stated. “You just don’t know with ankle sprains. I don’t even know if we will know more by tomorrow. We’ll just have to wait and see. It will be a waiting game.” Asked how the ankle felt, Butler stated, “Like a rolled ankle.”
At Sacramento, the Kings had no reply for Curry within the winner-take-all battle. After 20 first-half factors, he pressed the assault within the third quarter because the Warriors pulled away, Kevon Looney dominating the boards once more with 21 rebounds.
“It’s huge for us,” Curry stated. “In each series he makes an impact. It’s not loud. It’s all the dirty work and we love him for it.”
Klay Thompson accomplished a four-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining within the third quarter to provide Golden State a 91-81 edge getting into the fourth. The Warriors stretched the result in 104-83 with 6:30 remaining and cruised from there.
Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 22 factors however had solely six within the second half.
“It really stinks,” he stated. “We could have kept moving forward in the playoffs.”
Source: www.news.com.au
