The raucous home crowd loved every second of No. 30’s galloping, grinning, body-shaking show.
Curry, who was out for over a month with a foot injury, scored 34 points to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets by 126 to106 Monday night. This gave them a 2-0 lead in their best of seven playoff series.
Curry stated that Curry felt a little more positive after the first half and that my body was feeling good. He was able to get to certain spots. It feels different when you take certain shots. This makes it feel more normal. Also, more emotion comes out.
Elias stated that he was on the floor just 3 seconds shy 23 minutes. No player during the shot clock era had ever scored more than 30 points in 23 minutes or less in a playoff game.
Coach Steve Kerr stated, “It didn’t surprise me because I have been watching this for a while with Steph.” He has outbursts like this all the time, but you never find yourself surprised. It’s wonderful to watch.”
Nikola Jokic scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds before he was ejected after a second technical. He was stopped by a referee after his first technical, which occurred with 2:31 left in the third.
Jokic stated, “I’m supposed not to do that and I’m going to not do that.” “I believe I was fouled at the moment, because I heard the slap. “That’s why I just reacted.”
All night, the MVP candidate was emotional. Golden State guard Gary Payton II, Golden State’s guard, patted Jokic on his backside. Curry then turned to face Payton and held him back. Jordan Poole came in to assist.
Draymond Green’s defense flustered Jokic throughout the night.
Green stated, “If you feel that you’re getting underneath their skin, you should press a little harder.” You can press a little more if you don’t feel you’re getting underneath their skin.
Poole played again for Curry and scored 29 points. He missed a chance to be the first Warriors player to score 30 in two playoff games.
Klay Thompson scored 21 points. Curry went 12-17 with five 3s, and Denver was unable to defend the Warriors’ dangerous perimeter threats.
The series moves to Denver on Thursday night for Game 3.
Curry will Curry start? Curry stated that his goal is to make his minutes more impactful.
Kerr stated, “We’ll be seeing.”
After a five-game winning streak, the Warriors are now rolling with the support of their fans.
Golden State scored runs of 16-0, 23-4 and 43-31 in the second quarter to overcome a deficit of 43-31 and gain a lead of 57-51 at the half-time. One particularly impressive sequence saw Green pass to Poole, who then threw it behind Thompson’s back for a layup that made it 54 to 47.
After being hurt on a drive, Austin Rivers grabbed his left hip and fell hard. Thompson then hit a jumper at the other end of the 5-on-4 advantage. Rivers left with 10:04 remaining in the second quarter. With 46.7 seconds remaining in the half, he returned.
After Monte Morris’ layup at 7:25 in the second quarter, the Nuggets led 43-31. The Warriors responded with 16 consecutive points. With 3:38 left, the Chase Center crowd was enthralled by Poole’s 3.
Curry made his debut at 6:32 in the first, to a standing ovation. He immediately hit a jumper and was welcomed into the arena. He became the 27th player to reach 3,000 career postseason point total with 16 points in the first half.
He displayed a wide range of moves, including driving to the basket full-force and making a 3-pointer as he fell to the ground.
Denver led 7-0 at the half. Jokic made four quick free shots to give Denver a lead of 7-0. The teams went 6-21 with three field goals each, and the Warriors were 1-7 on 3s.
FRUSTRATION BOILS OVER
Denver’s DeMarcus Coursins and Will Barton had a heated exchange during the Warriors’ 44 point third quarter.
It’s like you just snap your finger and you’re out. Coach Michael Malone stated that frustration is the reason.
TIP-INS
Nuggets – Jokic was 9 for 20, and has missed eight of his three-point attempts in just two games. … Denver made more costly mistakes, with 18 leading to 25 Warriors points. Malone said that this could not have happened.
Warriors: Curry and Thompson combined went 31 for 52 on the floor with 13 threes. This was the fourth consecutive time that three Warriors guards had scored at least 20 points, and the first since 2013. … The Warriors had a 41-35 rebounding edge in the series opener. However, Denver was leading 47-35 on Monday. Golden State is now 17-4 in Game 2 in the playoffs, dating back to 2015’s title run that saw the franchise win its first championship in 40-years. Andre Iguodala was suffering from neck spasms.
QUOTABLE
Malone comments on the Nuggets’ need to improve communication during Game 2. It is usually not possible to get more horrible, so it can’t get worse.
