Stephen Curry scored 50 factors in a record-shattering efficiency Sunday to ship the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second spherical of the NBA playoffs whereas a Jimmy Butler ankle damage raised tensions for the triumphant Miami Heat.
Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was almost unstoppable because the Warriors received 120-100 at Sacramento to seize their best-of-seven Western Conference collection 4-3.
“I just wanted to come out and look for shots early, get my teammates going throughout the game,” Curry mentioned. “But when I’m looking for shots, it usually works in our favor.”
The 35-year-old guard delivered an unimaginable efficiency, hitting 20 of a career-high 38 shot makes an attempt and going 7-of-18 from 3-point vary and 3-of-5 from the free throw line.
He additionally added eight rebounds and 6 assists.
Curry’s 50 factors had been a profession playoff excessive and essentially the most factors in any NBA sport seven — breaking the previous mark of 48 set by Kevin Durant for Brooklyn in a 2021 loss to Milwaukee.
The Warriors subsequent will face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semi-final matchup that begins on Tuesday.
“They are playing unbelievable,” Curry mentioned. “All their items match so it will be an enormous check for us.
“Thank God we get to worry about that because these last 36 hours were a little dicey,” added Curry, whose Warriors missed an opportunity to shut out the Kings in sport six.
In Sunday’s different playoff contest, Butler scored 25 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds to guide Miami over the host New York Knicks 108-101 of their Eastern Conference second-round opener however suffered a proper ankle damage.
The collection continues Tuesday at New York however Butler’s standing will steal the highlight till then.
“No idea,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. “You just don’t know with ankle sprains. I don’t even know if we will know more by tomorrow. We’ll just have to wait and see. It will be a waiting game.”
Asked how the ankle felt, Butler mentioned, “Like a rolled ankle.”
At Sacramento, the Kings had no reply for Curry within the winner-take-all battle. After 20 first-half factors, he pressed the assault within the third quarter because the Warriors pulled away as Kevon Looney grabbed 21 rebounds.
“It’s huge for us,” Curry mentioned. “In each series he makes an impact. It’s not loud. It’s all the dirty work and we love him for it.”
Klay Thompson accomplished a four-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining within the third quarter to present Golden State a 91-81 edge coming into the fourth. The Warriors stretched the result in 104-83 with 6:30 remaining and cruised from there.
Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 22 factors however had solely six within the second half.
“It really stinks,” he mentioned. “We could have kept moving forward in the playoffs.”
Heat sizzle late
There was an intense environment at Madison Square Garden, which had not seen a second-round playoff contest since 2013.
The sport and Butler’s ankle turned when Butler fell to the court docket with the Heat up 95-92 and 5:05 to play.
As Butler planted his proper foot to drive to the basket, falling Knicks defender Josh Hart’s foot struck Butler’s foot to trigger the damage.
Butler limped to the bench however returned to make two free throws and remained within the sport.
“He did not want to come out of the game so we left him in,” Spoelstra mentioned.
Often standing in a nook removed from the run of play, Butler was largely stationary.
“Find a way to win,” Butler mentioned of his cause for staying on the court docket. “Be out there. Be a presence. I didn’t do too much except airball a three. But I’ll take the dub (W).”
Butler’s teammates stepped up. Gabe Vincent made a 3-pointer and Bam Adebayo and reserve Kyle Lowry, who scored 12 of his 18 within the second half, added hoops in a pivotal 7-0 run for a 104-94 Miami edge.
The Knicks, who’re 0-7 within the playoffs when dropping the collection opener at house, had been led by 26 factors from R.J. Barrett and 25 from Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks had been with out two-time All-Star ahead Julius Randle, out with a left ankle sprain.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
