Stephen Curry scored a playoff career-high 50 points and answered time and again to will the defending champions on in their quest for a repeat, Kevon Looney grabbed 21 rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Sacramento Kings 120-100 in Monday’s (AEST) winner-take-all game seven.
Curry’s points are the most in NBA history in a game seven, topping former teammate Kevin Durant’s 48 for the Nets against Milwaukee in 2021.
After the game he was compared with Michael Jordan by Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who played alongside the Chicago Bulls champion during their famous threepeat from 1995/96-1997/98.
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Curry was also described as “the greatest shooter of all-time” by respected commentator Jalen Rose and Curry’s star teammate Klay Thompson said he would forever remember the night as “The Steph Curry Game”.
“He doesn’t surprise me. We all take him for granted because he’s brilliant night after night and we’ve all been watching this for 10 years and you just have to remind yourself every once in a while, big picture this is one of the greatest players in the history of the game,” Kerr said.
“But that’s how I felt back in my playing days, you know, with Michael Jordan. You’d see it night after night so you just took it for granted. That’s how it is with Steph it’s over and over and over again.
“The resilience and the work that goes into that and the focus, it’s incredible to watch.”
Thompson has had massive scoring nights over the course of his career, including one 60-point game, yet all he could do was watch in amazement as Curry almost single-handedly eliminated the Kings on the road.
“It’s the best, especially when you have an off night yourself, or the team, no one really shot it particularly well except for Steph and there’s a reason he’s a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, because he pushes us over the top in moments like this,” Thompson said.
“And when he’s in a zone like that you try to just get him in his spots, get him the ball and get out the way.
“Gosh, what an incredible performance. This is a game seven I’ll forever remember as The Steph Curry Game. He’s just a joy to watch and play with.
“I really, truly enjoyed sharing the backcourt with him.”
Now, bring on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. Game one is Wednesday (AEST) at Chase Center.
Domantas Sabonis had 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists but the Warriors held De’Aaron Fox in check as he scored 16 points on 5-for-19 shooting in his third game playing with a broken index finger on his shooting hand.
HEAT 108, KNICKS 101
NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Butler had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and the No.8-seeded Miami kept rolling after barely reaching the postseason, beating New York in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Gabe Vincent scored 20 points for the Heat, who became the sixth No.8 seed to beat a No.1 when they toppled Milwaukee in the first round and continue to look nothing like a team that needed to win a play-in game just to get the final postseason berth in the East.
RJ Barrett scored 26 points and Jalen Brunson had 25 for the fifth-seeded Knicks, who are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2013. They started strong and led most of the first half, but the Heat eventually got the Madison Square Garden crowd quieter and quieter as the game went on.
Game two is Wednesday (AEST).
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