Steph Curry’s record night leads Warriors past Kings in NBA playoffs

Golden State will meet LeBron James’ Lakers in the next round of the NBA playoffs after a stunning night from Steph Curry.

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors and Draymond Green #23 react in game seven of the Western Conference Playoffs against Sacramento. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Stephen Curry scored 50 points in a record-shattering performance on Sunday (Monday AEST) to send the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was nearly unstoppable as the Warriors won 120-100 at Sacramento to capture their best-of-seven game Western Conference series 4-3.

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“I just wanted to come out and look for shots early, get my teammates going throughout the game,” Curry said. “But when I’m looking for shots, it usually works in our favour.”

The 35-year-old guard delivered an incredible performance, hitting 20 of a career-high 38 shot attempts and going 7-of-18 from 3-point range and 3-of-5 from the free throw line.

He also added eight rebounds and six assists.

Curry’s 50 points were a career playoff high and the most points in any NBA game seven - breaking the old mark of 48 set by Kevin Durant for Brooklyn in a 2021 loss to Milwaukee.

“We need to have a conversation if he’s the greatest point guard to ever live.” 😳

- Stephen A Smith on Steph Curry pic.twitter.com/l8LqaRmUui

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 30, 2023

Curry’s performance prompted prominent US sports commentator Stephen A Smith to suggest the Golden State star could be “the greatest point guard to ever live”.

The Warriors next will face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semi-final matchup that starts on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).

“They are playing unbelievable,” Curry said. “All their pieces fit so it’s going to be a huge test for us.

Steph Curry toyed with the home team Kings all game. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“Thank God we get to worry about that because these last 36 hours were a little dicey,” added Curry, whose Warriors missed a chance to close out the Kings in game six.

In Sunday’s other playoff contest, Jimmy Butler scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Miami over the host New York Knicks 108-101 in their Eastern Conference second-round opener, but also picked up a right ankle injury.

The series continues on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) at New York, but Butler’s status will steal the spotlight until then.

“No idea,” 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 said, “Like a rolled ankle.”

Steph Curry. Psycho mode. pic.twitter.com/EYL3W64W80

— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) April 30, 2023

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, Kevon Looney dominating the boards again with 21 rebounds.

“It’s huge for us,” Curry said. “In each series he makes an impact. It’s not loud. It’s all the dirty 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 said. “We could have kept moving forward in the playoffs.”