Curry scores 49 in potential NBA Finals preview

The “M-V-P!” chants reigned down and Stephen Curry played every bit like one yet again. Mouthpiece dangling and shots dropping.

He has had so many brilliant back-and-forths with Kyrie Irving in recent years and this one will surely be added to that list among the best.

Curry scored 49 points, with 13 of those over the final 1:42, and hit eight 3-pointers, lifting the Golden State Warriors past the Boston Celtics 109-105 Saturday night in what is already being hyped as a potential NBA Finals matchup.

Irving scored 37 points on 13-for18 shooting with five threes, but Boston failed to build momentum from a win at the Clippers Wednesday night and lost for the fifth time in six games.

“The way he started the game tonight was pretty crazy,” Curry said. “We try to bring the best out of each other. Tonight was one of those nights, just a fun way to play.”

The NBA’s top teams from their respective conferences put on quite an entertaining show.

Curry made a go-ahead three with 1:42 to play, scored on a driving layup the next time down before eight late free throws. He also made three of his threes over the final 4:20 of the third quarter for the Warriors, who had lost the last two matchups to the Celtics and two in a row at home. The Warriors fell 92-88 Nov. 16 at Boston in which they squandered a 17-point lead.

Kevin Durant added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors, who haven’t lost to the same Eastern Conference opponent twice in the same season during fourthyear coach Steve Kerr’s tenure. Draymond Green had 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Curry’s three-pointer with 4:20 left in the third put Golden State up 70-63, he hit another at the 2:52 mark then connected once more at 2:12 as Golden State grabbed momentum heading into the final period up 80-73.

The two-time NBA MVP scored 18 points in the third, shot 16-for-24 including 8-for-13 from long range, while notching his second 40-point game of the season and 29th of his career in the regular season. Irving was sensational himself. Plenty familiar with Golden State from three straight Finals matchups with the Cavaliers, he hit his first seven shots with three three-pointers while Jaylen Brown converted his first four field goals including two threes. Boston built a 34-24 lead late in the opening quarter and stayed ahead by 10 going into the second.

He didn’t miss his first shot until a driving floater 4:16 before halftime.