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 practically unstoppable as the Warriors received 120-100 at Sacramento to seize their best-of-seven Western Conference sequence 4-3.
“I simply wished to come back out and search for photographs early, get my teammates going all through the sport,” Curry said. “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 have been a profession playoff excessive and probably the most factors in any NBA recreation 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 enjoying unbelievable,” Curry said. “All their pieces fit so it’s going to be a huge test 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 recreation 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 sequence continues Tuesday at New York however Butler’s standing will steal the highlight till then.
“No thought,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “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 stated, “Like a rolled ankle.”
At Sacramento, the Kings had no answer for Curry in the winner-take-all battle. After 20 first-half points, he pressed the attack in the third quarter as the Warriors pulled away as Kevon Looney grabbed 21 rebounds.
“It’s huge for us,” Curry stated. “In every sequence he makes an influence. It’s not loud. It’s all of the soiled work and we love him for it.”
Klay Thompson completed a four-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give Golden State a 91-81 edge entering the fourth. The Warriors stretched the lead to 104-83 with 6:30 remaining and cruised from there.
Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 22 points but had only six in the second half.
“It really stinks,” he stated. “We might have saved shifting ahead within 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 game and Butler’s ankle turned when Butler fell to the court with the Heat up 95-92 and 5:05 to play.
As Butler planted his right foot to drive to the basket, falling Knicks defender Josh Hart’s foot struck Butler’s foot to cause the injury.
Butler limped to the bench but returned to make two free throws and remained in the game.
“He did not want to come out of the game so we left him in,” Spoelstra stated.
Often standing in a nook removed from the run of play, Butler was largely stationary.
“Find a approach to win,” Butler said of his reason for staying on the court. “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 shedding the sequence opener at residence, have been led by 26 factors from R.J. Barrett and 25 from Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks have been with out two-time All-Star ahead Julius Randle, out with a left ankle sprain.
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