NBA Playoff Highlights: Steph Curry Scores 30 Points In Warriors’ 121-95 Win For Sweep Of Jazz

by Pablo MenaMay 9, 2017, 3:03 pmUncategorized >

Stephen Curry scored 30 points in leading the Golden State Warriors to a 121-95 victory over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Monday night to complete their second-round sweep of the Western Conference Semifinals in four games.

NBA Playoffs: Steph Curry’s 30 Points Lead Warriors to Game 4 Win, Sweep of Jazz

Draymond Green added 17 points, ten rebounds and 11 assists for his third career playoff triple-double, while Klay Thompson scored 21 points and Kevin Durant contributed 18. Here are some highlights of Curry and the rest of the Warriors’ big shots in the win:

Here is a different look at the victory:

”We have a lot of talent,” Curry said. ”We never know who is going to have a hot night. We try to move the ball, use each other to create open shots and when we do that, the ball is hopping and a lot of good things happen.”

Warriors interim coach Mike Brown said prior to Monday’s game that he hoped the team would get off to a fast start, and Golden State indeed delivered. The Dubs led 39-17 after one quarter of play thanks to strong offensive performances from Curry and Green, who combined to shoot 6 for 8 in the first 15 minutes.

”Steph was Steph and we fed off him,” Warriors interim head coach Mike Brown said.

Curry entered Monday’s game averaging 26.7 points in the playoffs.

Gordon Hayward led Utah with 25 points, and Shevlin Mack added 18 for the Jazz, which went on a 14-0 run early in the second quarter thanks to Dante Exum and Derrick Favors to trim their deficit to ten points and eventually trail 60-52 at halftime.

Utah, which snapped a four-year postseason drought by reaching the 2017 playoffs, was never ahead in three of their four games against Golden State, including Monday’s matchup.

”It’s been a unique arc for us,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. ”The adversity that kind of continued to rear its head and the way these guys dealt with it. It was apropos tonight.

”What happened, happened. We got blitzed.”

Golden State, the reigning Western Conference champions, have won both their postseason series 4-0 this year. The Warriors next face the winner of the Houston-San Antonio series, which is tied 2-2, in the third round. The Rockets and Spurs face off Monday night (8 pm) at AT&T Center.

”The most important thing was we imposed our will on the game and we had the game at our pace,” Green said.

The Dubs could face the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who are also 8-0 in the 2017 playoffs, for the third consecutive NBA Finals this year.

The Warriors’ eight straight victories to start the playoffs are a record for the franchise. If Golden State wins the next round, it will mark the first time the team has ever reached three consecutive NBA Finals.

Head coach Steve Kerr remained out for the Warriors after undergoing a spinal cord leak procedure on Friday. There is no timetable for his return. Kerr had back surgery two years ago and has dealt with complications ever since. Brown has been Golden State’s interim coach since Game 3 of the first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers.

In other NBA Playoffs news, the Rockets announced Monday that center Nene is out for the postseason with a groin injury. The Brazilian star tore a muscle in his left thigh during the first quarter of Houston’s 125-104 Game 4 victory over the Spurs on Sunday and did not return. The Rockets said they are reviewing treatment options.

“I hate it for Nene,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s been so valuable all year, such a good guy.”

Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, meanwhile, will forgo the final year of his contract to become a free agent this summer.

The three-time All-Star has one year and $12 million left on the four-year, $48 million deal he signed in July 2014.

Lowry averaged career-highs of 22.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game in the regular season but was held to 60 games due to a right wrist injury that required surgery in February. In eight playoff games he averaged 15.8 points, 5.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MAY 8: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors directs a play in the first half against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 8, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah.