The Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-100 in Game 7 of their Western Conference series. Stephen Curry erupted for 50 points, the most scored in a Game 7 in NBA history, and is the first player in Warriors history with 40-plus points in a Game 7. Curry scored or assisted on 66 of Golden State’s points in Game 7, and, as a result of one of his shots or passes, he created 53 of the Warriors’ 100 attempted field goals. The Warriors will now face the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semifinals, with Game 1 on Tuesday at San Francisco’s Chase Center.
The Warriors looked outmatched early, missing five of their first six 3-pointers, while the Kings were cooking. Curry got little help from his teammates early in the game, but the Warriors woke up midway through the third quarter, and their presence on the boards was the game-changer. Through rebounding, the Warriors slowed down the Kings, took control of the pace, and attempted 10 more shots in the third quarter. They outscored Sacramento by 22 in the second half, tied for the fifth-largest point differential in the second half of a Game 7 in NBA playoff history. Curry scored 30 of his points in the second half, becoming the first player since 1996-97 to score that much in the second half in any Game 7.
The Warriors are now 1-9 all time in a best-of-seven series when they trail 2-0. They are defying the odds by still playing at this high of a level, and they love when they still prove a lot of people wrong. It’s part of their vibe now. Curry’s performance prompted Warriors coach Steve Kerr to call him one of the greatest players in the history of the game. The Warriors will now face the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semifinals, and Game 1 will be on Tuesday at San Francisco’s Chase Center.
