Curry fuels Game 3 rout
Back to basics: Warriors reestablish series control, dominating in all areas
Warriors players and fans cheer after a Stephen Curry three-pointer during Sunday’s 126-85 destruction of the Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. Led by Curry’s game-high 35 points, the Warriors grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Warriors outscored the Rockets 72-42 in the second half and are two wins from returning to the NBA Finals. Game 4 is Tuesday at Oracle.
Stephen Curry lofted a floater over the outstretched arm of Luc Mbah a Moute, turned toward the sellout crowd at Oracle Arena, grabbed his mouthguard and, while pointing to the floor, shouted: “This is my f— house!”
In less than three minutes of the third quarter in the Warriors’ 126-85 rout of the Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Sunday night, Curry had returned to his dazzling ways, scoring 12 of his game-high 35 points on a mix of drives to the rim and deep threepointers. Along the way, he hushed those who had questioned whether his Game 2 dud (16 points on 7-for-19 shooting) signaled something more serious than an off night.
That Curry is back to his signature 30-foot jumpers and dizzying dribbling displays was just one of many feel-good developments for Golden State. Four nights after getting blown out in Game 2 in Houston, the Warriors eradicated any doubt early in the second half, riding stingy defense and workhorse performances from Curry, Kevin Durant (25 points) and Draymond Green (10 points, 17 re-
bounds, six assists) to a 2-1 series lead.
Golden State’s 41-point margin of victory was its largest in franchise postseason history, topping the Philadelphia Warriors’ 39-point win over the St. Louis Bombers on April 6, 1948. With its 16th consecutive postseason home win, Golden State eclipsed the Chicago Bulls — 15 straight from April 27, 1990 to May 21, 1991 — for the longest streak in NBA history.
“When we get beat up pretty good, we kind of have that appropriate fear that we speak of,” Green said. “That was important tonight. I think we felt a little threat, and we came out and showed that.”
Now, as they prepare for Game 4 on Tuesday night at home, the Warriors want to maintain that focus and intensity. This much is certain: The Rockets, who won Game 2 by 22 points to bring suspense back to a long-anticipated matchup, can only hope Golden State gets lax defensively.
Because after watching the video of a Game 2 in which they were repeatedly slow switching off ball-screens, the Warriors made necessary adjustments Sunday, giving Houston little room to operate. Concerns surrounding Chris Paul’s health will amplify after the nine-time All-Star scored just 13 points on 5-for-16 shooting. James Harden, the odds-on MVP favorite, was held to 20 points, more than 10 below his season average.
P.J. Tucker, Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon, role players who helped power the Rockets’ Game 2 romp, were largely non-factors. As for Golden State? All five starters scored in double figures for the first time this postseason. Andre Iguodala, dogged by questions about his diminishing production, showed off his athleticism in finishing with 10 points and a plus-minus of plus-26.
“Tonight was just all about defense and taking care of the ball,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “If we defend at that level and protect the ball, we’re generally going to be in good shape.”
Curry, who had been back only two weeks since missing more than a month with a knee injury, left the bench at one point in Game 1 to stretch in the tunnel. Asked afterward whether he tweaked something, Curry said, “Yeah, but (in the) playoffs it doesn’t really matter. … I’ll be fine.”
In Game 2, Curry didn’t look completely healthy. He was slow switching off ball screens and was exploited on pick-and-rolls. On offense, he never found a rhythm, missing seven of his eight three-point attempts.
Curry went 1-for-7 from three-point range in the first half Sunday, only to help propel a 10-0 run to start the third quarter that gave the Warriors a 21-point cushion. All seven of his shots in that period went in. There was Curry’s drive past Harden for an easy basket, his crafty back-cut that freed him up for a reverse layup, a 30-foot jumper that sent the crowd into a frenzy, and a three-pointer over Harden that had Curry unleash his signature shimmy.
After he weaved through traffic to hit that floater over Mbah a Moute late in the third, Curry — revered for being the choirboy of NBA superstars — shocked many by barking some not-safe-for-work language just feet in front of a TNT camera.
“I blacked out,” Curry recalled with a chuckle.