In Game 7 of their first-round playoff series, Stephen Curry added to his reputation by scoring 50 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 120-100 victory against the Sacramento Kings.
One of the few times a road team has won a Game 7, and it was an instance of one of the all-time greats performing at the top of his game when it mattered most.
Kevin Durant, Curry’s former teammate, was compelled to send him flowers after the game.
Legendary 30. 50 pieces
Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 30, 2023
With wing Andrew Wiggins shooting only 5-of-16 and guard Klay Thompson hitting just 4-of-19 shots from the field on Sunday, Golden State’s bench made virtually little of an offensive impact.
A club needs its best player to put out a Herculean performance in contests like this, and Curry did just that.
He made 7 of 18 three-pointers and 20 of 38 shots overall, and it appeared that he improved in the fourth quarter as his team drew away.
Curry put those worries to rest in the NBA Finals of last year with a 43-point performance in the crucial fourth game, which helped him win series MVP honors. Some have questioned whether Curry has what it takes to perform at his best under pressure.
The reigning champion Warriors will face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals despite everything they have been through this season, which has included repeated injuries to Curry.
Yes, Golden State still has a very real chance of winning a fifth championship in the last nine years.