SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Steph Curry was back in the Golden State Warriors’ starting line-up when they edged past the Denver Nuggets in a 102-98 game five win that sealed passage for Steve Kerr’s side into the conference semi-finals vs the Memphis Grizzlies.
Curry, who has not been at full fitness for a spell, bagged 30 points in that game, and his presence helps immensely on the business end of the NBA playoffs, as the Warriors have failed in the past two seasons to even make it to the post-season.
The 34-year-old Curry was obviously the key behind Golden State making it to five successive NBA finals and will hope that a new era for his team is in the offing. The Chase Center side is leading the NBA odds and looks good for another shot at the title, especially with a full complement of top players for Kerr to pick from.
Though the Warriors were more than capable during the time Curry has been out of action, or not at his very best due to a sprained ligament in his left foot, they are clearly a much better prospect when they can call upon the eight-time NBA All-Star pick.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic battled manfully to give Denver a chance of pushing things to a sixth game, but Curry hit the afterburner and claimed 11 points in the fourth quarter, helping his team come back from an eight-point deficit with 12 minutes on the clock.
On the prospects of the Warriors going all the way, Curry stated:
“Tonight was just a weird feeling because we hadn’t been there in a while. We wanted it so bad, it kind of made it a lot more difficult on ourselves. But we still remember how to do it, which is a good feeling.”
Curry’s efforts did not go unnoticed by his teammates. Klay Thompson, who, of course, made an emotional return to the game after a lengthy injury break, was full of superlatives for his fellow Warrior’s star;
“Steph Curry is a special, special player, and you’ll probably never see another player like him again. Some of the threes he made were so incredible, also getting to the rim and making the pocket pass,” Thompson added.
The Memphis Grizzlies, whom the Warriors beat in game one, won’t represent a huge test for Curry and his team, and the real fun will probably begin when Golden State likely takes on the Phoenix Suns for the Conference title.
In the Eastern side of the playoff picture, the Boston Celtics blew away the Brooklyn Nets in four games and will face reigning NBA title holders the Milwaukee Bucks in one of the conference semi-finals, while the Miami Heat faces off with the Philadelphia 76ers in the other.
The odds are well placed for Curry to pick up a fourth NBA Championship ring, and it will be another accolade to add to the many the experienced talent has racked up over the past 12 months.
