Warriors star Curry named NBA Clutch Player of the Year

LOS ANGELES, United States - Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry was named the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year on Thursday in recognition of his performance in tight, late-game situations.

Curry led the league in points scored in clutch time -- defined as games within five points with less than five minutes to play -- with 189.

He shot an average of 49.6% from the field -- including 45.7% from three-point range -- in clutch situations, both above his season averages.

Curry's late-game heroics included a pair of game-winning shots, one a 33-footer to beat the Phoenix Suns on February 10 and another a layup at the buzzer to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the In-Season Tournament.

"You've got to be able to fail," Curry told broadcaster TNT during the televised announcement of the award.

"I don't know if anything clicked other than just knowing how much time you put into the game and with that time comes deserved confidence of 'OK, I'm ready for whatever moment.'"

Curry is just the second recipient of the award. Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox won the inaugural title last season.

He was one of three finalists, along with Chicago's DeMar DeRozan and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander is also a finalist for Most Valuable Player.

Curry's clutch prowess isn't getting a test in the playoffs. The Warriors finished 10th in the Western Conference and were eliminated by the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.

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NBA: Curry hits 50 as Warriors advance, Butler hurt in Heat win

NEW YORK  -- Stephen Curry scored 50 points in a record-shattering performance Sunday to send the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs while a Jimmy Butler ankle injury raised tensions for the triumphant Miami Heat.

Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was nearly unstoppable as the Warriors won 120-100 at Sacramento to capture their best-of-seven Western Conference series 4-3.

"I just wanted to come out and look for shots early, get my teammates going throughout the game," Curry said. "But when I'm looking for shots, it usually works in our favor."

The 35-year-old guard delivered an incredible performance, hitting 20 of a career-high 38 shot attempts and going 7-of-18 from 3-point range and 3-of-5 from the free throw line.

"It was about being aggressive," Curry said. "I got 38 shots for a reason. We started to see where the holes were and I could be ultra aggressive and it worked."

Curry also added eight rebounds and six assists.

"Steph was elite. He put these guys on his back and said, 'We're not losing,'" Kings coach Mike Brown said. "Give Steph a ton of credit for doing exactly what he's supposed to do. Heck of a performance."

Curry's 50 points were a career playoff high and the most points in any NBA game seven -- breaking the old mark of 48 set by Kevin Durant for Brooklyn in a 2021 loss to Milwaukee.

"What an incredible all-time performance," Curry's backcourt teammate Klay Thompson said. "This is a game seven I'll forever remember as the Steph Curry game."

The Warriors next face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semi-final matchup starting on Tuesday. Golden State faced a James-led Cleveland in four straight NBA Finals, winning three of them.

"It's special from the first series we played him in Cleveland," Curry said. "We're blessed to be playing at this level still and excited about a new chapter."

In Sunday's other playoff contest, Butler scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Miami over the host New York Knicks 108-101 in their Eastern Conference second-round opener but suffered a right ankle injury.

The series continues Tuesday at New York but Butler's status will steal the spotlight until then.

"No idea," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "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 said, "Like a rolled ankle."

At Sacramento, the Kings had no answer for Curry in the winner-take-all battle. After 20 first-half points, he pressed the attack in the third quarter as the Warriors pulled away along with Kevon Looney, who grabbed 21 rebounds.

"It's huge for us," Curry said. "In each series he makes an impact. It's not loud. It's all the dirty work and we love him for it."

Thompson completed a four-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give Golden State a 91-81 edge entering the fourth. The Warriors stretched the lead to 104-83 with 6:30 remaining and cruised from there.

Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 22 points but had only six in the second half.

- Heat sizzle late -

There was an intense atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, which had not seen a second-round playoff contest since 2013.

The game and Butler's ankle turned when Butler fell to the court with the Heat up 95-92 and 5:05 to play.

As Butler planted his right foot to drive to the basket, falling Knicks defender Josh Hart's foot struck Butler's foot. Butler limped to the bench but returned to make two free throws and remained in the game.

"He did not want to come out of the game so we left him in," Spoelstra said.

Often standing in a corner far from the run of play, Butler was largely stationary.

"Find a way to win," Butler said of his reason for staying on the court. "Be out there. Be a presence. I didn't do too much except airball a three. But I'll take the dub (W)."

Butler's teammates stepped up. Gabe Vincent made a 3-pointer and Bam Adebayo and reserve Kyle Lowry, who scored 12 of his 18 in the second half, added hoops in a pivotal 7-0 run for a 104-94 Miami edge.

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NBA: Curry scores 39 to lead Warriors rally over Pelicans

LOS ANGELES -- Golden State erased a 20-point deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 120-109 on Tuesday, with Stephen Curry scoring 39 points as the Warriors edged ahead of Minnesota into sixth place in the Western Conference.

Curry drained five of his eight three-pointers in the second half as the reigning NBA champion Warriors came alive, surging past the Pelicans to win a sometimes sloppy, often scrappy contest and boost their chances of avoiding the play-in tournament for teams placed seventh through 10th in each conference.

Golden State star Draymond Green and New Orleans' Brandon Ingram received double technical fouls with 3:45 left in the second quarter after they exchanged words in the wake of Green's foul on the Pelicans player -- which was upgraded to a flagrant.

Green's collision with Herbert Jones sparked some more shoving, and with 14 turnovers in the testy first half, the Warriors were down 17 at the break.

They opened the third quarter on an 8-0 scoring run and had cut the deficit to four points going into the fourth.

"We started playing with some heart and intensity," Green said of the difference in the second half.

Jordan Poole's reverse layup early in the fourth gave the Warriors their first lead since the first quarter, 95-94, and they didn't trail again.

Poole scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and Klay Thompson added 17 for the Warriors.

Ingram led the Pelicans with 26 points and Trey Murphy added 21, but New Orleans coach Willie Green said his team's lackluster start to the third quarter was fatal.

"We started, I believe it was eight-zip," he said. "Two turnovers. You can't give this team any life. Once they get going, once this building gets going, it's tough to stop them."

- Wizards shock Celtics -

Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics' chances of overtaking the Milwaukee Bucks for the top seed in the East took a hit with an ugly 130-111 loss to the lowly Washington Wizards.

Perhaps caught looking ahead to a Thursday clash with the Bucks, the Celtics were lackadaisical on defense, unable to stop a Wizards team missing two key players in Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 32 points for the Wizards and Deni Avdija added 25.

Jayson Tatum returned from a one-game absence to lead the Celtics with 28 points. Marcus Smart had four three-pointers in the first half, but overall, Boston connected on just 11 of 44 from three-point range.

They trailed by 13 at halftime and by as many as 23 in the second half.

"It was just one of those nights," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "Very rarely has that happened to our team. Just one of those off nights."

The Toronto Raptors outscored the Miami Heat 62-36 in the paint in a 106-92 victory.

Pascal Siakam scored 26 points and Scottie Barnes added 22 along with a career-high 12 assists for the Raptors -- as the Heat failed to gain ground in their bid to avoid the play-in round.

With Jimmy Butler sidelined by a sore neck, the Heat dropped a second straight game.

Tyler Herro scored 33 points and Bam Adebayo added 21 points and 12 rebounds for Miami, who cut the deficit to 10 with less than four minutes to play only for their charge to stall.

Dejounte Murray starred late as the Atlanta Hawks edged the playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers 120-118.

Murray made three free throws to put the Hawks up 115-113 with 2:14 remaining, then came up with a steal and a basket that pushed the lead to four in the final minute.

He finished with 29 points to lead the Hawks, who remained tied with Toronto for the eighth-best record in the East.

Atlanta withstood a 44-point effort from Donovan Mitchell, who tied LeBron James's Cavaliers franchise record of 10 games of 40 or more points in a season.

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NBA: Steph Curry saves Warriors against Sacramento

LOS ANGELES — Golden State ended their five-game losing streak but only after a brilliant fourth-quarter performance from Stephen Curry against Sacramento.

Curry scored 17 of his 47 points in the final frame as the Warriors outscored the Kings 37-25 to sneak a 116-113 win.

"Whatever it takes to get a win at this point," Curry said. 

"There was a sense of desperation coming off that road trip struggling like we did... we still can show that championship kind of grit and competitiveness to pull out a game like that.

"We know how to do it -- I just needed to light the fire a little bit."

In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid drained a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line in a 33-point display as the 76ers outgunned the Phoenix Suns 100-88.

Embiid's shooting accuracy was backed with a red-hot contribution off the bench from Georges Niang, who sank seven three-pointers in a 21-point contribution. Tobias Harris also scored 21 points for the Sixers.

Devin Booker led the Phoenix scoring with 28 points, while veteran playmaker Chris Paul hobbled off with a sore right heel. The Suns said Paul was removed from the game as a precaution.

Embiid was satisfied with his free throw accuracy as he returned after a three-game absence due to illness.

"If they're going to keep fouling me I have to make my free throws," Embiid said. 

He said the Sixers (5-6) would overcome the injury absence of James Harden in daunting upcoming games against Atlanta and Milwaukee.

"We're going to miss him but it's next man up," Embiid said. "I've got to dominate offensively and defensively like tonight."

In Memphis, Jayson Tatum's 39-point display carried the Boston Celtics to a 109-106 victory over the Grizzlies.

Ja Morant scored 30 points for Memphis, including five three-pointers, but Tatum's dynamic performance sealed a battling win for the Celtics. 

Jaylen Brown added 21 points for Boston, with Al Horford and Marcus Smart scoring 15 apiece.

In Miami, Josh Hart drained a three-pointer on the buzzer as the Portland Trail Blazers snatched a 110-107 win against the Heat.

Miami looked to have done enough to force overtime after Max Strus's three-pointer with 6.2 seconds remaining tied it up.

But Damian Lillard launched one last drive up the court and found Hart, who unleashed his winning bucket as time expired.

Anfernee Simons led Portland's scorers with 25 points, while Jerami Grant added 23 and Lillard 19. Hart finished with 12.

"It was a good play by Dame (Lillard), he made an unselfish pass and I was able to knock it down," Hart said afterwards.

"Dame's a hell of a person and a hell of a player -- he trusts everyone who's wearing a Blazers jersey." 

In Dallas, Luka Doncic maintained his incredible scoring streak as the Mavericks edged past Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets 96-94.

Doncic scored 36 points in the win -- his ninth straight 30-point game since the season started last month. Kevin Durant led the Nets scoring with 26 points.

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Curry says teams 'reloading' to dethrone Warriors as NBA champs

TOKYO, Japan -- Stephen Curry said Thursday that NBA teams are "reloading" to dethrone the Golden State Warriors as champions, as they begin their pre-season preparations this weekend in Japan.

Sharp-shooter Curry is aiming for his fifth championship when the season gets underway next month, and he urged his Warriors teammates to "embrace" the target on their backs.

"It's very easy to stay motivated because you want to maintain this feeling for as long as you can," Curry said in Tokyo, where the Warriors will play the Washington Wizards in two pre-season games.

"We also know that defending a championship is the hardest thing to do in our sport. Not many teams are able to do it and every team is reloading to beat you, so we have to embrace that and try to keep getting better."

The Warriors beat the Boston Celtics in last season's NBA Finals to win the title for a seventh time.

Curry was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after a series of dazzling performances to capture one of the few accolades previously missing from his resume.

The 34-year-old said he had managed to get some rest after a "crazy busy summer" and is itching for the new season to get started.

"I'm looking to get into the routine of the season because that's kind of my happy place, to try to be the best basketball player I can be and get ready for this year," said Curry, a two-time regular-season MVP.

Friday's game at Saitama Super Arena, north of Tokyo, will mark the first time that NBA teams have played pre-season games overseas since the pandemic began.

The Wizards, who did not reach the playoffs last season, have Japanese star Rui Hachimura in their squad.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr warned that "nobody will play a tonne of minutes", but Curry promised to "put on a great show" for the Japanese fans.

"It's a special opportunity to embrace Japanese culture, the fans, to show appreciation for how the game of basketball, the NBA, has grown around the world," he said.

"Obviously it's really early in our journey this season, our first pre-season games, but we'll do our best to have fun with it, put on a great show and enjoy the atmosphere that will be in the arena."

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Thompson savors fourth NBA title after career-threatening injuries

BOSTON, United States - Klay Thompson didn't stint on the celebrations of his fourth NBA title, one that came in the wake of two devastating injuries that showed the Golden State star just how fragile and NBA career can be.

"Oh, man, I was feeling absolutely incredible," said Thompson, who danced with teammate Stephen Curry as the trophy was awarded in the wake of their game six victory over the Celtics in Boston.

"I was feeling just so high on life that I did not want to leave the stage, and I just know how hard this is, and to be here for a fourth time, like so grateful for my teammates."

Thompson's journey embodied the Warriors' unlikely return to the summit, after their NBA title runs in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

He returned from a 31-month injury absence in January, and his latest Finals run comes three years after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in game six of the 2019 NBA Finals.

He was on his way back from that injury when, more than 17 months later, he tore his right Achilles tendon.

"The anguish that Klay has felt over the last three years ... people can guess as to what it is like, but we saw it up close," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

"And, you know, between a second year-long injury and losing what he loves to do most in life, you know, playing the game, it's been a rough go for him."

But even though he didn't take the court until the season was almost half over, Thompson said he knew the Warriors could be title contenders again.

"I saw it in the beginning of season," he said. "People called me crazy. I said championship or bust, because I saw how we came out of the gate, 18-2. And playing just that Warriors brand of basketball that made us so successful, and then knowing I was going to be inserted in that, I knew we had a chance to do something special, and here we are."

Thompson said his 2019 injury "was easier to accept because I had never been hurt before and that five-year run took a lot out of us.

"But the second time it happened it was like, what the heck is going on, man. Just to stay with it, just calf raise after calf raise, after underwater treadmill, so many days, not even touching a ball.

"Then to go through this season with the ups and downs, and even these playoffs, I'm just at a loss for words at times.

"Because I knew this was possible but to be here in real time, man, I don't want to leave. I want to enjoy every second of this. I know how fleeting it can be."

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NBA: Curry genius echoes Federer, says Warriors coach

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr says Stephen Curry's approach to basketball reminds him of tennis great Roger Federer.

Curry wrote another gilded chapter to his glittering career on Friday, delivering a breathtaking 43-point display to haul the Warriors back into NBA Finals contention with a series-leveling victory over the Boston Celtics.

It was the sort of iconic performance that will go down in NBA history, a dazzling reminder of why Curry is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

For Kerr, Curry's latest masterpiece brought back memories of an encounter between the Warriors and 20-time grand slam champion Federer in Shanghai five years ago.

"We actually met Federer a few years ago in China when we played in Shanghai. He came and spoke to our locker room, and Draymond (Green) asked him, he said, 'How have you been doing this for 20 years?'," Kerr recalled on Sunday.

"And his answer was just simple, yet profound. He said, 'I love my daily ritual.' He said, 'I get up, make my kids breakfast, drop them off at school, go train and I've figured out the right training methods to keep me in the best position at my age. I love competing.' He said, 'But every single day, I put my head on the pillow at the end of the day and think, man, what a great day.'

"So I think of Steph a lot when I think of that story from Roger Federer. Very, very similar just sort of zest for life and just joy for the process."

Curry, 34, will be back on home court for game five on Monday, attempting to help Golden State grab a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series.

- 'Like a metronome' -

Curry's performances so far in the series have left him as Golden State's front-runner for the NBA Finals MVP award, an accolade which would fill one of the few holes on his CV. 

While Curry's remarkable fitness has enabled him to peak during the finals, Kerr is not surprised that the veteran is in prime physical condition. 

"His routine, it's like a metronome. Every day, it's the exact same thing. He's in the training room, he's in the weight room, he's on the court. It's clockwork," Kerr said. 

"But there's also a sense of joy and energy within that work. 

"I think that's one of the things that ties all great athletes together, like talking about the superstar athletes, the Roger Federers of the world, the Steph Currys of the world. There's a routine that not only is super-disciplined but it's really enjoyed each day.

"There's a passion that comes with it, and that's what sustains it over time. When you love something like those guys do, you work at it, you get better and you just keep going.

Curry meanwhile says simply that his form is down to his appetite for hard work.

"I love to work," he told reporters on Sunday. "You kind of get lost in the sessions you have on the court in practice, in the weight room, wherever it is, because you know it's going to lead to you being as prepared as possible for those games.

"Try to have as much fun as possible. Days that you want to get up and do the work, the days that you don't, days you're tired, all that type of stuff. 

"But it's all just built on my approach from the time I started and just trying to carry that every year for as long as I can.

"Win, lose, whatever it is, however you play, you have to keep coming back to the well to keep sharpening the toolkit and finding ways to evolve your game. The hardest part of what we do is the grind of the year-long prep that it takes to be great at this level."

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NBA: Curry stars as Warriors down Celtics to level series

SAN FRANCISCO -- Stephen Curry scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors roared back into NBA Finals contention on Sunday with a series-levelling 107-88 game two victory over the Boston Celtics.

Curry spearheaded a deadly display of Golden State shooting while a superb Warriors defensive effort shut down Boston's key offensive weapons.

The Warriors, who squandered a 12-point fourth quarter lead in game one, were in no mood to allow lightning to strike twice on Sunday as they cut loose to build a double-digit advantage in the third quarter to tie the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Curry led the scoring for Golden State, with Jordan Poole (17 points), Andrew Wiggins (11), Kevon Looney (12) and Klay Thompson (11) also making double figures.

Jayson Tatum topped the Boston scorers with 28 points, but crucially 21 of those came in a hardfought first half. 

Only two other Boston players -- Jaylen Brown with 17 points and Derrick White with 12 -- cracked double digits.

The Warriors defense -- marshalled brilliantly by Draymond Green -- suffocated Boston in the second half, with two high-scoring Celtics heroes from game one -- Al Horford and Marcus Smart – held to just four points combined.

The series now moves to Boston with game three scheduled for Wednesday and game four on Friday.

"We said we needed to play with desperation and that's what we did," said Curry. "It's a good feeling to get back on track and now we've got to take it on the road.

"We got off to a better start defensively where we made an imprint on the game and they felt us more than they did in game one. Our third quarter was great and we got a bit more separation that made the fourth quarter easier tonight."

The Warriors put themselves in a winning position after outscoring Boston 35-14 in the third quarter to take an 87-64 lead into the fourth quarter.

- Poole party -

Poole electrified San Francisco's packed Chase Center after launching a buzzer-beating three-pointer from near halfway at the end of the third to cap a devastating passage of play from the home team.

The Warriors kept up the pressure in the early part of the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 29 points as the Celtics scrambled to regroup before closing out a blowout win.

Boston -- who erupted for 40 points in the final quarter to win game one -- picked up where they left off on Sunday, jumping out to an early 13-5 lead with Brown leading the way.

A Brown three-pointer took Boston into a 22-13 lead early in the first quarter before a sustained Warriors rally led by Curry saw the hosts get back to within one point.

A Curry layup on the buzzer gave Golden State a 31-30 lead heading into the second quarter.

Again though Boston found another gear, with Tatum nailing a three-pointer to put the Celtics 33-31 ahead. The Celtics took a five-point lead at 40-35 with a White three-pointer.

The Warriors responded with a 10-0 lead to go up 45-40 and there was little to separate the two teams in the closing stages of the half. Wiggins scored from an offensive rebound to give the Warriors a slender 52-50 half-time lead.

Boston looked the more dangerous team for long periods of the first half, and made 10-of-19 from three-point range, including five from Tatum while Brown finished the half with 15 points.

But the Warriors -- who made only six from beyond the arc in the first half -- erupted after the break to seal the game.

The Celtics meanwhile coughed up 18 turnovers as the Warriors defense took charge.

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NBA fines Mavs $100K over continued bench antics

NEW YORK, United States - The NBA upped the pressure on the Dallas Mavericks over their boisterous bench antics on Sunday, fining the club $100,000 after its latest violation of "bench decorum."

The hefty penalty, for conduct during the Mavs' game-two loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals, comes after fines of $25,000 and $50,000 over the behavior of unoccupied Mavs players on the sideline during the club's series win over the Phoenix Suns.

"The amount of Dallas' fine also reflects prior infractions of team bench decorum rules in the 2022 NBA playoffs," president of league operations Byron Spruell said in a statement.

The latest Mavs actions to provoke the NBA's ire occurred on Friday, when Golden State's Stephen Curry scored 32 points and the Warriors erased a 19-point first-half deficit to win 126-117 and take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Game three was on Sunday in Dallas.

"On multiple occasions, several players and a member of the coaching staff stood for an extended period in the Mavericks’ team bench area, stood away from the team bench, and were on or encroaching upon the playing court during game action," Spruell said.

That has been a familiar pattern for the Mavericks, whose bench players have made it a habit to create commotion on the sideline.

Billionaire Mavs owner Mark Cuban isn't likely to be bothered by the increasing fines -- nor he is likely to curb his own habit of straying toward the court.

Even Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he didn't much mind the antics, as long as they didn't create confusion as to who was actually in the game.

At one point on Friday, Curry was attempting a pass into the corner but ended up throwing the ball out of bounds toward the Mavs bench, with some suggesting Curry mistook one of the inactive Mavs players -- two of whom were standing and wearing white -- for a teammate in a white uniform jersey.

In the same contest, Golden State's Jordan Poole came down from a three-point attempt and almost landed on the feet of Mavs players on the sideline.

"I don't mind as long as it doesn't interfere with the game," Kerr said. "I love the fact that Dallas' bench is energetic and talking trash and into it. I think that's what fans want to see. They want to see a team that cares and they want to see energy and chemistry. So I love it, but when it interferes with the game, that's when it crosses the line.

"So I think that's the only thing I'm concerned with, if there is a play that ... if there's a person on the court, person who is standing up calling for the ball, that's a little too much. But otherwise, I really enjoy it. I think it's great."

Agence France-Presse

Curry, Warriors comeback stuns Luka, Mavs to take 2-0 series lead

Stephen Curry scored 32 points as the Golden State Warriors staged a stunning fightback to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 126-117 on Friday and seize control of their NBA Western Conference finals series.

A pulsating clash at San Francisco's Chase Center saw the Warriors overturn a 19-point first-half deficit for a victory that leaves the six-time NBA champions 2-0 up in the best-of-seven series.

Curry may have led the Warriors scoring but the remarkable turnaround owed everything to a dogged team performance.

Six Golden State players finished in double figures, with Jordan Poole, Kevon Looney and Andrew Wiggins all coming up with crucial plays.

Looney in particular delivered a crucial performance with a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Luka Doncic meanwhile produced another high-scoring masterclass for Dallas with 42 points, five rebounds and eight assists, while Jalen Brunson had 31 points.

But the night and victory belonged to the Warriors, who had been left shellshocked by Dallas in a wild first half.

The Mavericks erupted for 72 points in the first two quarters that left them 14 points clear, leading 72-58 at the break.

Doncic led the offensive bombardment with 24 first-half points, with Brunson nailing four three-pointers for a 20-point haul.

Reggie Bullock was also deadly from downtown, making four of out five attempts from three-point range in the first half.

The Mavs led from the outset, with Doncic putting them 5-0 ahead before a 13-0 run left Dallas 23-8 up with just a few minutes gone.

Stung into action, the Warriors produced a 13-0 run of their own to get back within three points at 26-23, but once again Dallas pulled clear with deadly long-range shooting.

Dallas made 15 of 27 three-pointers during the first half, almost double the eight-of-15 converted by the Warriors.

Doncic put the seal on an incredible display with a 29-foot three-pointer on the stroke of half-time.

But the momentum swung back towards Golden State in the third quarter, with the Warriors chipping away at the Mavs lead to close within two at 85-83 heading into the fourth quarter.

A three-pointer from Otto Porter Jr. gave the Warriors their first lead of the night at 86-85 early in the fourth quarter, and with their noses in front Golden State were not to be denied.

The Warriors outscored Dallas 43-32 in the final quarter to complete a thrilling win as the series heads to Texas for game three on Sunday.

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Curry takes charge as Warriors oust Nuggets

LOS ANGELES -- The Golden State Warriors completed a 4-1 series victory against the Denver Nuggets to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs on Wednesday.

Golden State relied on 30 points from Stephen Curry and a crucial late 15-point cameo from Gary Payton II to seal a pulsating 102-98 victory over reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

The Warriors will now face either the Memphis Grizzlies or Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semi-finals.

The Warriors, who had led the series 3-0 before dropping game four in Colorado on Sunday, dug deep in the fourth quarter to clinch victory at the Chase Center.

The Nuggets, buoyed by a towering 30-point display from Jokic, had led by eight points at the end of the third period.

But Golden State outscored the visitors 32-20 in the fourth quarter -- with Payton contributing 10 points -- to claim a dramatic win.

The victory was Golden State's first playoff series win since 2019 after two consecutive seasons where they missed the postseason. 

"I think you could see those first three quarters we'd forgotten what it felt like to try and close out a game," Curry said. 

"The nerves, the energy, the pressure in the building. It's been a long time since we've felt this. We still know how to do it but we had to grind it out. It's a good feeling to go through and get the win."

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NBA: Jordan Poole leads way in Warriors' rout of Nuggets

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State's Stephen Curry made a triumphant return from a left foot sprain on Saturday as the Warriors, led by Jordan Poole's 30 points, routed Denver 123-107 in an NBA playoff opener.

All-Star guard Curry, sidelined since March 16 with the injury, had 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the floor (3-of-6 from 3-point range) with three rebounds, four assists and a steal over 22 minutes off the bench as the host Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series.

"Everything was smooth for the most part," Curry said. "It was nice to get back out there, to feel the playoff vibe again. It was nice to just be out there with my guys. It was a step in the right direction."

Curry said he had no expectations about when he might start again.

"I can hopefully provide a lot of energy off the bench," Curry said. "We have to keep things simple, be decisive, have confidence in each other. JP is a part of that now."

Poole hit 9-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-7 from 3-point range in his playoff debut.

"It was good to get the first one under the belt," said Poole. "Just taking what they gave me, being patient and trying to be as aggressive as possible."

Klay Thompson added 19 points and praised Poole, saying: "He's incredible, a star in the making. He's just going to keep getting better."

Other NBA playoff openers Saturday saw the Utah Jazz outlast Dallas 99-93, Philadelphia defeat Toronto 131-111 and Minnesota upset Memphis 130-117.

Curry started 0-for-5, got his first basket on a goaltending call off a drive to the hoop and played 12 minutes in the first half.

"I like the way he approached the game," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "He found his rhythm as the game went on. It was a really good first game back for him and will set the table for what's to come."

Having Curry back was a thrill for Thompson, who missed more than two full seasons with injuries before returning to Golden State in January.

"He's still Steph Curry and he still made huge shots for us," Thompson said. "The threat of him being out there is the best. It makes us a championship team."

The Warriors closed the first half on an 18-4 run for a 58-47 edge and pulled away in the third quarter.

"The key stretch was the end of the second quarter," Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. "We can't beat ourselves and the Warriors in the same game."

Serbian big man Nikola Jokic, last year's NBA Most Valuable Player, led Denver with 25 points.

Agence France-Presse

Steph Curry dazzles with 16 3-pointers as Team LeBron wins All-Star Game

Stephen Curry scored 50 points and set an All-Star Game record with 16 3-point baskets to give Team LeBron a 163-160 victory over Team Durant on Sunday night in Cleveland.

Curry, playing for Team LeBron, shattered the former All-Star record of nine 3-pointers, set by Paul George in 2016. The Golden State Warriors' star fell two points shy of the scoring record set by Anthony Davis in 2017 but still took home MVP honors with his dazzling performance.

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers had 36 points and 10 rebounds to lead Team Durant.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers hit the game-ending shot to reach the target score and give Team LeBron the victory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks had 30 points and 12 rebounds for Team LeBron. James scored 24 points while playing in his 18th All-Star Game, one shy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record.

Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns added 20 points for Team Durant.

The third quarter ended with Team Durant holding a 139-138 lead. That set the target winning score at 163 with the NBA adding 24 points to the leading total after three quarters. It is the third straight year the formula has been part of the game.

Curry's 16th 3-pointer gave Team LeBron a 144-139 lead. Embiid's three-point play later pulled Team Durant within 151-150 and then he sank two free throws to give his team a one-point lead.

Antetokounmpo later scored back-to-back baskets, James added a layup and DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls hit a turnaround to give Team LeBron a 161-155 lead. Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine scored five straight points for Team Durant before James drained the 17-foot fadeaway jumper that gave his team the required 163 points.

Curry attempted 27 3-pointers and was 17 of 30 overall from the field.

Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns played 2:19 for Team LeBron despite having a fractured right thumb that will sideline him for six to eight weeks. Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz missed the contest due to a non-COVID illness.

Also, injured Kevin Durant (knee) of the Brooklyn Nets didn't partake in the festivities due to the death of his grandmother earlier Sunday.

Between halves, members of the NBA's 75th anniversary team were honored.

When play resumed, Curry went into lava-hot mode and knocked down five 3-pointers in 128 seconds, including shots from 37 and 33 feet. His second 3-pointer during the stretch -- a 25-footer with 8:37 remaining in the third quarter -- was his 10th to break George's record.

Curry added two more 3-pointers later in the stanza to take a total of 15 into the final quarter. Both teams scored 45 points in the third period.

Curry had 24 first-half points on a record eight 3-pointers for a half, but Team LeBron trailed 94-93 at the break. Embiid had 17 first-half points to pace Team Durant.

-reuters-

NBA: Stephen Curry hits milestone trey but Warriors fall to Nuggets

Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history to make 3,000 3-pointers in a career Tuesday night, but Will Barton got the better of the game's final minute, saving four of his 21 points for the final 43.6 seconds to push the visiting Denver Nuggets past the Golden State Warriors 89-86 in the opener of a home-and-home sequence.

Nikola Jokic had 22 points and a game-high 18 rebounds for the Nuggets, who were playing Golden State for the first time this season and will get an opportunity to sweep a pair when the clubs meet in a rematch Thursday in Denver.

While the Warriors were falling behind by as many as 24 points, Curry struggled without a 3-pointer for almost 36 minutes before connecting on his milestone three with 5.3 seconds remaining in the third period to cap a 25-14 Warriors run that trimmed a 24-point halftime deficit to 74-61.

Curry bombed in four more 3-pointers in the fourth period, including one with 2:08 to play that got the Warriors within 84-82.

After a Gary Payton II layup pulled Golden State even with 1:04 to play, Barton tipped in his own miss with 43.6 seconds left for a lead the Nuggets never relinquished, before adding two free throws with 32 seconds to go to double the margin.

The Warriors had two chances to tie, including one final possession with 2.3 seconds to go, but Andre Iguodala misfired on a potential overtime-creating 3-pointer, allowing the Nuggets to record a second straight win.

Curry finished with a game-high 23 points for the Warriors, making five of his 14 3-point attempts. His teammates combined to make just five of their 18 from beyond the arc.

Jokic also contributed five assists and four steals to the win.

The Nuggets won the game at the foul line despite making just 13 of 20. That's because the Warriors missed 15 of their 31, with rookie Jonathan Kuminga going just 3-for-10 on a nine-point night.

Kuminga, seeing additional playing time with Draymond Green having gone into health-and-safety protocols, also had an interior shot blocked by Jokic with 3.7 seconds remaining with the Warriors down by two.

Andrew Wiggins added 21 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors, while Payton chipped in with 11 points and Juan Toscano-Anderson 10.

In snapping Golden State's three-game winning streak, the Nuggets dominated the first half, starting with a 10-0, game-opening burst. Barton had 17 of his 21 points in the first half, when Denver also had a 13-0 run en route to a 60-36 halftime advantage.

-reuters-

Steph Curry scores 46 as Warriors beat Grizzlies

Juan Toscano-Anderson and Gary Payton II hit key hoops down the stretch and Stephen Curry exploded for 46 points as the Golden State Warriors finally got the better of the Memphis Grizzlies in a 113-104 victory Thursday night in San Francisco.

After ending the Warriors’ season last May in the NBA’s Western Conference play-in finale and denying Golden State a measure of revenge during an overtime road win in October, the Grizzlies appeared on the doorstep of a three-peat when De’Anthony Melton scored to tie the game at 102-all with 2:03 to play.

But Toscano-Anderson and Payton, getting increased playing time with Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Andre Iguodala and Damion Lee all out of action, then came through. Toscano-Anderson broke the tie with an interior hoop with 1:46 to go before Payton buried a 3-pointer 34 seconds later for a five-point lead.

When Curry connected from inside the key with 19.6 seconds to go to cap his fifth 40-plus-point game of the season, the Warriors completed a two-game homestand with a second straight win.

Curry’s 46 points were the product of 13-for-22 shooting overall, including 8-for-14 from 3-point range, and 12-for-12 success at the foul line.

It was his second-highest point total of the season behind only a 50-point night against the Atlanta Hawks in November.

On a night when neither team led by more than 10, the Warriors seemed to be taking control when Kevon Looney hit a short jumper for a 95-87 lead with 7:30 remaining.

However, Memphis’ Ja Morant countered with a hoop, Kyle Anderson sank a 3-pointer and Desmond Bane hit a free throw following a Draymond Green technical foul, closing the gap to two and setting up the tight finish.

Payton hit four 3-pointers and totaled 22 points for the Warriors, who outscored the Grizzlies 57-24 from beyond the arc.

Golden State’s Otto Porter Jr., making a rare start, had a game-high nine rebounds, while Green contributed to the win with a game-high nine assists to complement eight points and five rebounds.

In just his second game since returning from a knee injury, Morant paced the Grizzlies with 21 points to go with a team-high six assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Melton had 20 points apiece.

Dillon Brooks added 13 points and Desmond Bane 12 for the Grizzlies, who lost their third straight in the wake of a five-game winning streak.

-reuters-

Stephen Curry is NBA's new three-point king

NEW YORK -- Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry eclipsed Ray Allen as the NBA's three-point king on Tuesday, draining his record 2,974th career three-pointer against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Curry, whose remarkable shooting range has revolutionized the NBA in his 13-year tenure, matched Allen's record with his 2,973rd three-pointer with 10:56 remaining in the first quarter with his first shot of the contest.

He missed a chance at breaking the record but with 7:33 remaining in the opening period, he swished in number 2,974 over Knicks defender Alec Burks, with Andrew Wiggins getting the assist after kicking the ball out to Curry from the paint.

Curry let out a loud shout as teammates celebrated with him.

"Hell yeah!" teammate Draymond Green shouted as photographers gathered around. "That's greatness!"

Curry exchanged an emotional hug with coach Steve Kerr, who corralled the ball used in the record-setting shot, and then embraced his father, former NBA player Dell Curry, as well as Allen.

Kerr said in a halftime television interview that the moment was "more emotional" than he had expected.

"It was just beautiful just to hear the fans' reaction, see his teammates, see his dad -- it was just a fantastic moment."

Curry has been scorching towards overtaking Allen's record for years. He finally surpassed the milestone on Tuesday in his 789th career game; Allen had achieved his old benchmark in 1,300 appearances.

Such is his long-range prowess that there was real belief that Curry could perhaps break the record with a single-game mark of 16 in a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers last Wednesday.

That didn't happen, and the Warriors departed on a road trip with Curry needing 10 three-pointers to break the record.

- Electric atmosphere -

The 76ers' swarming defense held Curry to three three-pointers in Philadelphia on Saturday. He added two more at Indiana on Monday.

Curry, who said he knew teams would be keen to slow him, wasn't disappointed to have a shot at the record at Madison Square Garden, perhaps the most storied arena in the NBA.

"I've had some fun nights in that building," said Curry, whose 54-point performance there against the Knicks on February 27, 2013 was a harbinger of a career that now includes three NBA titles and two Most Valuable Player awards.

"The whole legacy of that building, how iconic it is -- a lot of cool things have happened in that building."

The atmosphere was electric before the game with Allen courtside and Reggie Miller, who held the three-point record for more than a decade before Allen broke it in 2011, on duty as a television commentator.

Both chatted and shared a hug with Curry before the game, with filmmaker and Knicks super-fan Spike Lee catching the moment on his cell phone camera.

Reaction from around the league was swift.

"Just landed in Dallas to see @StephenCurry30 broke the record and to make it even doper he did it in the GARDEN!!" Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James tweeted. "WOW CONGRATS BROTHER!! INCREDIBLE"

Curry and the Warriors won NBA titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018 against Cleveland Cavaliers teams led by James.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver called Curry's achievement "thrilling."

"He has revolutionized the way the game is played and continues to leave fans in awe with his amazing artistry and extraordinary shooting ability. We congratulate him on this historic achievement."

Added former Lakers great Magic Johnson: "Congratulations to Steph Curry for making history and setting the new NBA All-Time 3-point record tonight!! Thank you @StephenCurry30 for revolutionizing the game of basketball forever! It was great to see his parents Dell and Sonya there supporting him!"

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Curry propels Warriors to win over Clippers

LOS ANGELES -- Stephen Curry came alive late as the Golden State Warriors shook off a sloppy start to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-90 and post their seventh straight NBA victory.

With both teams turning the ball over and missing shots it was close at halftime, the Warriors leading 44-42 on the Clippers' home floor.

Golden State extended that lead with an 11-2 scoring burst to open the third quarter, and never trailed in the second half, posting their 42nd straight game with at least 100 points scored.

It looked like that streak might end, but Curry scored 13 points in the final frame as the Warriors pushed the lead to as many as 21 points after seeing it dwindle to just two late in the third period.

Jordan Poole scored 17 points, including three in less than two minutes late in the third as the Warriors withstood a 30-point performance from Los Angeles star Paul George.

Curry, incensed at not getting a foul call as he drove for a layup with 9:11 left in the fourth, received a technical foul for yelling at a referee.

The moment appeared to galvanize the Warriors superstar, who finished by shooting 53.8% from the field while handing out six assists and pulling down five rebounds.

"It was kind of a B.S. T (technical foul)," Curry said, adding: "You have those moments and decisions of where you're going to put your energy at, and obviously I thought I got fouled so I wanted to let the emotions out and then you let it go and then you just play basketball.

"For me individually and for our team, I think we fueled off of that and just worried about putting the ball in the basket and that's when the avalanche started."

Curry also came up with six of the Warriors' 19 steals as 24 turnovers proved costly to the Clippers.

By the time Curry checked out of the game plenty of fans in the Staples Center crowd were cheering him.

Curry's 28.6 points per game lead the league this season, and with seven three-pointers on the day he has reached 100 three-pointers with just 19 games under his belt in the campaign.

The Warriors, whose 18-2 record leads the league, face a marquee matchup on Tuesday against western Conference challengers Phoenix, who have won 16 straight on the way to a 17-3 record.

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Stephen Curry, Warriors win 10th straight home game

The NBA's winningest home team and one of its losingest road clubs followed their season-long forms Friday night when Stephen Curry's game-high 32 points led the Golden State Warriors to a 118-103 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers in San Francisco.

The win was the Warriors' 10th straight at home, with each of the 10 coming by 10 or more points.

Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers fell to 1-9 on the road with a third consecutive loss away from home, their second in three nights to begin a three-game trip.

Golden State led by as many as 21 points before Portland, getting three rapid-fire 3-pointers from Anfernee Simons, rallied within striking distance at 96-88 on a Larry Nance Jr. dunk with 6:39 to play.

But Andrew Wiggins countered with a pair of interior hoops and Curry bombed in his fifth and sixth 3-pointers of the night, allowing Golden State to extend the margin to 14 before coasting home.

Curry dominated his personal duel with San Francisco Bay Area native Damian Lillard, who shot just 5 for 15 on a 16-point night. Curry made 12 of his 25 shots while also finding time for eight assists and seven rebounds.

Wiggins shot 10-for-16 in a 25-point performance, while Jordan Poole finished with 14 points, and Draymond Green and Kevon Looney chipped in 12 apiece.

Green also contributed a game-high 12 assists, a game high-tying eight rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals to Golden State's sixth straight win.

Juan Toscano-Anderson matched Green's rebound total while also finding time for eight points in a key reserve role.

Looney made six of his seven shots, helping the Warriors outshoot the Trail Blazers 54.0 percent to 41.9 percent.

Simons wound up 5 of 10 on 3-point attempts and 7 of 13 overall en route to a team-high 19 points off the bench for Portland, which lost its second straight in the wake of a four-game winning streak.

Jusuf Nurkic had 17 points, CJ McCollum 16 to go with a team-high seven rebounds and Norman Powell 15 points before leaving the game in the third quarter with a knee injury.

Lillard complemented his 16 points with a team-high six assists.

-reuters-

NBA: Stephen Curry pours in 37 as Warriors blow out Nets

Stephen Curry scored 37 points and tied a season best by hitting nine 3-pointers as the Golden State Warriors took command in the third quarter and rolled to a 117-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in New York.

Curry joined Ray Allen as the second player to reach 2,900 career 3-pointers when he hit his first trey early in the first quarter. Allen tops the list at 2,973. 

Curry shot 12 of 19 from the floor as the Warriors rebounded from seeing their seven-game winning streak stopped Sunday with a four-point loss against the Charlotte Hornets.

Andrew Wiggins added 19 points for the Warriors, who shot 51.9 percent. Jordan Poole contributed 17 while Draymond Green collected 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Golden State scored 25 fastbreak points and 52 points in the paint.

James Harden scored 24 points for Brooklyn, which missed 17 of 22 shots in the third period and shot 38.6 percent overall. Kevin Durant added 19 against his former team, shooting 6 of 19 while being held under 20 points for the first time this season.

Bruce Brown chipped in 14 for the Nets, who made just 10 of 36 3-point tries as Joe Harris sat out with a sprained left ankle.

The Warriors continued their hot start by winning for the 12th time in 14 games thanks to an impressive surge after halftime. Golden State made 13 of 18 shots in the third quarter and outscored the Nets by a commanding 35-18 margin to take a 98-76 lead into the final period.

The Warriors never trailed after Wiggins hit a 3-pointer with 26.6 seconds left in the second quarter, and he hit another trey at the buzzer to give Golden State a 63-58 lead by halftime.

Curry's layup gave Golden State its first double-digit lead at 69-58 less than two minutes into the third, and the lead grew to 91-70 on a transition dunk by Poole with 2:49 remaining. Andre Iguodala capped the dominant quarter with a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Curry hit two more 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the fourth before Golden State took a 106-80 lead on Damion Lee's basket. Curry hit his final 3-pointer for a 111-85 lead with 7:06 before being lifted about two minutes later.

-reuters-

Curry's MVP odds improve following 50-point explosion

Golden State guard Stephen Curry's odds of winning the regular season Most Valuable Player award shot up on Tuesday following his 50-point, 10-assist performance in the Warriors' win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

Three-time champion Curry, who took home MVP honors in 2015 and 2016 seasons, connected on 9 3-pointers and was 14-for-28 from the field in the 127-113 win in San Francisco.

With the victory, the Warriors improved to an NBA-best 9-1 in the young season. The crowd chanted "MVP" when Curry went to the free-throw line, where he was a perfect 13-for-13.

Curry is now the favorite to win the trophy for a third time at +200, or 2-1, odds, SportsBetting.ag said on Tuesday.

The next-closest competitors are Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brooklyn's Kevin Durant at 13-2, or +650.

Curry came into the season with 8-1 MVP odds, the website said.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr marveled at Curry's dazzling play.

"That was just a stunning performance by Steph," Kerr said, according to ESPN.

"He was amazing. I want to say I've never seen anything like it but I've been watching it for seven years, so I have seen something like it and still it's just incredible to watch."

(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles Editing by Toby Davis)

-reuters-