‘Shout out’ from one Splash bro to another

Stephen Curry stopped just before leaving his post-game news conference with one final, important thought.

A much-deserved acknowledgment of fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson for all of his tireless work on both ends of the court to get Golden State back to the Western Conference finals, much of it with Curry sidelined nursing a knee injury.

“Oh, wait, I’ve got to say one thing, though: Klay was in here earlier. That dude had the best series I think I’ve ever seen him play on both ends of the floor,” Curry said of Thompson’s scoring and defence against the Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard. “Defending Dame, exhausting all his energy to make it uncomfortable for him, and what he was able to do offensively, hopefully that doesn’t get lost in our series and the way we played as a team . ... Shout out to him for elevating his game on both ends of the floor. I had to say that. Thank you.”

The newly minted MVP and the rest of the Warriors sure have a different post-season swagger this year. They’ve done this before. They plan to win another championship and said that from the very start after capturing the franchise’s first title in 40 years last June. They’re one step closer. “They’re an amazing team. They’ve had an amazing season,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said.

Curry, Thompson and their teammates weren’t even at their best — or healthiest, for that matter — in eliminating the Trail Blazers 125-121 on Wednesday night in five games, and now they will wait on their opponent once more — preparing to face either Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the Western Conference finals.