The NBA’s MVP nailed seven three-pointers on his way toward 37 points as his Golden State Warriors worked toward a pivotal Game 5 win, downing the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-91. Curry managed 17 fourth-quarter points in the conquest, taking a 3-2 series lead as his W’s could take in the franchise’s first NBA championship in 40 years in Tuesday’s Game 6 in Cleveland.
“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Curry said postgame before needing to be treated for dehydration. “In the locker room, if you walked in there was the exact same after a regular-season win. But we know the sense of urgency of the moment. It’s a good feeling to get a win in Cleveland and understand we can get it done and how we need to get it done.”
After struggling to find consistent rhythm throughout the series, Curry went against Golden State orthodoxy in relying on a litany of one-on-one fakes against fading Cavalier point man Matthew Dellavedova down the stretch. Needing just a scintilla of distance against the upstart Cavs guard, Curry rose up for seven three-pointers in 13 attempts, overcoming LeBron James’ second triple-double of these Finals. James finished with 40 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in the loss.
Golden State continued its two-game tradition of going small, once again replacing 7-foot center Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup with jack of all trades Andre Iguodala. And, once again, Iguodala responded with a gem of a game, contributing 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals alongside zero turnovers and it’s-as-best-as-I-can-do defense on James. “Center” Draymond Green, meanwhile, did yeoman’s work in acting as a brute all-around force, adding 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists.