Curry’s 40 in return lift Warriors over Blazers, Take 3-1 Lead
The Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored 40 points (17 in overtime) as they took a 3-1 series lead, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in an instant classic.
Game 4 between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers had everything that makes the NBA great.
It was high-quality basketball between two great teams with special players. It had intensity and drama. The crowd was energized. It was back-and-forth all the way into overtime. And the superstars shined brightest in the biggest moments.
It was the highly anticipated return of the recently announced MVP Stephen Curry. Leading up to the game, there were rumors that Curry could make his return and Steve Kerr confirmed before the game that it would depend on how his warm ups went. The Warriors’ star went through his normal pre-game and came off the bench for the first time in four years.
The start of this game was an ugly one for the Warriors who just couldn’t get anything going on either end of the floor. Portland was able to get all the looks they wanted building double digit lead early. The Warriors started 1/10, struggling to get into an offensive rhythm. Curry entered the game a few minutes into the game with Andre Iguodala and the Warriors immediately sunk a wide open three-pointer.
Every time Golden State inched closer, Portland would hit a big three or get themselves to the line. Emotions were running high in this one. The Blazers’ Gerald Henderson fouled Draymond Green and continued to make contact with him after the whistle. Green, unhappy with the extra physicality, shoved off on Henderson and picked up a technical foul.
The whistle was inconsistent in this one. While both teams were visibly upset, the defending champs felt like they were slighted more often than not. Klay Thompson and Andrew Bogut picked up some questionable fouls and Green, as usual, was letting the referees know he was upset. It peaked after a Shaun Livingston dunk. The point guard went up for a dunk and was clocked across the head by Damian Lillard who wasn’t called for a foul. On the way back to the other side of the court, Livingston got in Scott Foster’s face and was assessed two quick technical fouls before the half.
They went into the half trailing by 10 as Portland was able to make enough plays to keep them at bay. As the Blazers threatened to pull away in the second half, Green wouldn’t let his team go down. He came up with huge defensive plays, blocking Mason Plumlee and Damian Lillard then turned that defense into quick offense, forcing his way onto the free throw line.
Coach of the Year runner-up Terry Stotts coached this game wonderfully, attacking Golden State in ways that they just weren’t making adjustments for. He also re-inserted Lillard into the game just a few minutes into the fourth as the Warriors were starting to look threatening.
The fourth quarter was just the best basketball you could ever ask for. Both teams were executing at a high level, hitting big shots and making key defensive plays. The ball hopped around and found open players. Al Farouq-Aminu knocked down clutch shots throughout the night. With time winding down, Kerr drew up a play that had Curry dribble on the right side and find Harrison Barnes on the wing for a wide open three that he hit.
Curry got the last shot in regulation, dribbling out almost the whole clock until he drove past Lillard and missed the runner off glass.
Overtime was the return of the MVP.
It only took two and a half quarters for the best basketball player in the world to return to form. He was other-wordly in an overtime period that ended up not being close at all. Curry took over hours after the news broke that he would win his second MVP award. He scored a record 17 points in overtime. He also grabbed a key offensive rebound that ended up being a layup.
In his first game back, the superstar scored 40 points, pulled in 8 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists off the bench in order to lift Golden State to a 3-1 series lead.
Draymond Green also finished with a career high, blocking 7 shots. Lillard had a slow beginning to his second half, but he led the way for Portland with 36 points, including some jaw-dropping three-pointers.
The Warriors will look to close the series out on Wednesday back in the friendly confines of Oracle Arena in Oakland.