Road to the Championship: Stephen Curry Forces OT vs. Pelicans

The 2014-2015 NBA season was filled with memorable moments, including another special night from Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry in late April, when the playoffs finally began.

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The numbers of the night as usual tell their own story. The Pelicans led by 20 points at the start of the fourth quarter, and led by 17 with 5:50 left. It was their first home game in the playoffs since Chris Paul left New Orleans, and the home crowd was eager to get behind the Anthony Davis-led team.

However, the Warriors would go on to prove that cooler heads would prevail, as their execution down the stretch far exceeded that of the Pelicans. They went on to outscore their Western Conference rivals 39-19 to force OT where they sealed a 123-119 win to secure a 3-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Had Golden State lost that game, would they have still had the momentum to go on and claim a series sweep and then march through the West?

The answer to that, we’ll never know and will never need to know as the rest is history. However, there is no doubt that that spectacular night from Curry should never be forgotten for its importance in the bigger picture.

The league MVP finished the night with 40 points and nine assists on 10-of-29 shooting from the field, but it will be that iconic image of him shooting over the outstretched arm of Anthony Davis to drill a three-pointer to tie the scores with 02:8 seconds remaining which will be etched into NBA folklore.

Apr 23, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) scores on a three point basket over New Orleans Pelicans guard

Tyreke Evans

(1) and forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard

Quincy Pondexter

(20) during the final seconds of the fourth quarter sending the game into overtime in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 123-119 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Curry’s heroics were crucial to Golden State throughout the season, but is there a bigger or better time to come up with a moment of individual brilliance like that than in a series-defining playoff game?

It was yet another example of Golden State’s ‘never say die’ attitude, and that ultimately stuck with them throughout the post-season as they always believed that they had something in their locker to pull out a win. Games like those against the Pelicans in April defined this team, and without memorable moments like Curry’s three, the story of the 2014/15 season could have been very different.

While that particular shot essentially silenced New Orleans both in that game and ultimately the series, it sent the Warriors on their way to the next round with a belief that what they had achieved in the regular season could be translated into the playoffs.

Moments like those that Curry and Klay Thompson produced not only inspired the Warriors as a team that they could win any game on any night, but it would have undoubtedly played on the minds of their rivals too. A combination of that confidence and belief with the nervousness in their opposition is crucial, and Curry played a huge role in making that happen last season with countless memorable moments.

Next: Imagining LeBron in the Warriors' Offense

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