Steph Curry erupts for 37 points as Golden State fight back to take 2-0 lead in Western Conference Finals
Friday 17 May 2019 08:09, UK
Stephen Curry erupted for 37 points as the Golden State Warriors battled back from a 15-point half-time deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-111 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.
The two-time MVP's game-high haul came courtesy of an efficient 11-of-22 shooting performance in which he had 4-of-8 from three-point range. The Warriors star also provided eight assists and eight rebounds and was a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.
It was Curry's third straight 30-point performance. The Warriors are 31-4 in the postseason when Curry scores 30 or more points.
Curry made five of his initial eight shots but could not prevent the Blazers building a 65-50 half-time lead, capitalising on 10 Warriors turnovers for 18 points. Curry scored Golden State's first eight points of the third to get his team back within 69-58 then Klay Thompson hit two threes to draw them even closer.
A Meyers Leonard three-pointer with 4:28 left in the fourth quarter earned the Blazers an eight-point advantage but the Warriors then reeled off a 14-3 run to close the game and take a 2-0 series lead.
With 2:01 remaining, Curry was fouled while attempting a three-pointer and calmly made the resultant trio of free throws to put the Warriors 110-108 ahead. He then found a cutting Draymond Green off the pick-and-roll who scored to make it 114-111 before Andre Iguodala's block of Damian Lillard's three-pointer in the final seconds sealed the victory.
Speaking on court immediately after the final buzzer, Curry said: "We knew they were going to come out swinging. They gave us a great punch and knocked us down a little bit. Coach challenged us at the half to compete and have an edge.
"That third quarter was unbelievable. A true testament of everybody taking part in helping us come back and win this game."
Click the video at the top of the page to watch Curry fire for 37 points in the Warriors' Game 2 win.
Game 3 takes place in Portland in the early hours of Sunday morning live on Sky Sports Arena.
