The Golden State Warriors were in unfamiliar territory in their first-round series against the Sacramento Kings in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Not only did they not have home court advantage as the No. 6 seed, they were facing a 2-0 series deficit heading back to Chase Center for Game 3.
It is the first 2-0 deficit the team has faced in the Steve Kerr era. To make matters worse, they were going to be without Draymond Green for Game 3, as he was suspended for stomping on Domantas Sabonis in Game 2.
Despite everything that was stacked against them, the Warriors would win three consecutive games in the series before being blown out in Game 6 at home. Heading back on the road for Game 7 and going inside a raucous Golden 1 Center, Golden State had their work cut out for them.
But, throughout all of the adversity, there was one consistent; Stephen Curry. He has continued stepping up when the Warriors needed him most and he did so again in Game 7. With their playoff lives on the line, Curry put on an all-time performance.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Steph Curry & Golden State Warriors Updates
He scored 50 points in the game, which is the most in a Game 7 in NBA history. He shot 20-of-38 from the field, as the shot attempts were the most for him in a single came in his career. The 22 points that he scored in the paint were also a career-high as the Kings had no answer for him.
“There is a reason he is a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, because he pushes us over the top in moments like this,” Warriors teammate Klay Thompson said. “When he’s in the zone like that, you try to just get him in his spots, get him the ball and get out of the way. This is a Game 7 I will forever remember as the Steph Curry game.”
Without much help from his teammates in the early going, Curry knew he had to put the team on his back and he did just that. Thompson eventually found his rhythm a little bit in the second half after a disastrous first half, and Kevon Looney deserves a ton of credit as well.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Steph Curry & Golden State Warriors Updates
Looney was truly dominant on the interior, as he took his game to another level from Game 3 on. In Game 7, he pulled down 21 rebounds to go along with four assists and 11 points. He routinely kept possessions alive and crushed the Kings’ spirit with 10 offensive rebounds.
That work on the glass helped lead to Curry scoring 30 points in the second half as numerous possessions were kept alive. He is the first player to score that much in the second half of a Game 7 since the 1996-97 season.
“When you see something that works, you’d be a fool not to stick with it,” Draymond Green said. “When Steph gets the ball and he slows down, he’s trying to get to something. And every time we did it, we got to what we wanted to get to. We ran when the opportunity was there; but when it’s not there, let’s slow it down and get a great look.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Steph Curry & Golden State Warriors Updates
The Warriors are certainly riding high after an eventful first-round series. However, they will have their work cut out for them in Round 2 as they will be facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in six games in their first-round series.
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