Steph Curry scored 43 points for the Golden State Warriors to lead his team to a stunning 107-97 win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, leaving the series level at 2-2.
According to ESPN, Curry became just the fifth guard in NBA history to score 40 points and collect 10 rebounds in an NBA Finals game - joining Magic Johnson and Jerry West as the only point guards to do so. He also went 7-of-14 from three-point range - many of which simply beggared belief - to become the first player to score at least five threes in four successive NBA Finals games.
Klay Thompson regained his shooting form as he scored 18 points for the Warriors, while teammate Andrew Wiggins contributed 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. However, this night was all about the masterful Curry - who is averaging 34.3 points in the series.
“Steph has carried us through so many lulls,” said Thompson. “Come game five, we're going to have to help him out. Asking him to score 43 nightly is ridiculous.
“It's just special to watch what he does. He does it so often that you kind of take it for granted. But I'm mesmerised just like the rest of the crowd was. It looks effortless.”
Thompson was right: Curry’s performance was ridiculous. One of the increasingly few accolades Curry does not yet possess is an NBA Finals MVP award, but it will undoubtedly be his if he continues to exude such a historic level of greatness to lead Golden State to a fourth championship in eight seasons.
The 34-year-old is averaging just 27.4 points per game in his Finals career. That's 10th best all-time, eclipsing the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas and Dwyane Wade, to name a few.
Curry’s impressive outing was particularly impressive given he seemingly had injured his foot after Al Horford fell on his leg while scrambling for a loose ball in Game 3. Undeterred, Curry played 41 minutes - only Wiggins spent more time on the court for the Warriors - and made 14 of 26 shots in total.
Wiggins had 16 rebounds to go with his 17 points for the Warriors, who have won at least one road game for 27 consecutive playoff series.
As for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum compiled 23 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots - but he only made one basket in the final quarter. Williams was listed as questionable coming into the game with the knee injury that kept him out at the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, and while he snagged 10 rebounds in the first half, he was limping in the second half and on the bench for the final minutes. He finished with 12 rebounds.
Boston led 94-90 with just over five minutes left but 10 consecutive points helped the Warriors to the crucial victory. The Celtics missed six straight shots and did not score again until 78 seconds remained after Curry made a floater and a three to give the Warriors a 100-94 lead.
Golden State outscored Boston 17-3 to close the game. Rather remarkably, the Warriors have outscored the Celtics by a combined score of 136-87 in these NBA Finals, with Curry shooting a scarcely-believable 49% from deep.
“The heart on that man is incredible,” Thompson adding. “The things he does, we kind of take for granted from time to time, but to go out there and put us on his back - I mean, we got to help him out on Monday. Wow.”
These experienced and battle-hardened Warriors refused to roll over against the upstart Celtics. They faced a 3-1 deficit - a death sentence, essentially - in the finals against a Boston unit which place a great emphasis on athletic and physical yet well-coordinated defence.
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Curry’s brilliance overshadowed the Warriors’ flaws. As Thompson admitted, his teammates will need to give their superstar some more help on Monday in Game 5.
It’s difficult to see be difficult to see the Warriors emerging triumphant from these Finals with Draymond Green performing at the level he is currently playing, as well as the inconsistencies of Thompson and Jordan Poole. The Celtics are the better team: they are more athletic, faster, stronger and elite at defence while they can shoot from the perimeter.
But the Warriors have Curry. The Chef is playing at his mesmerising and stupendous best, so Golden State fans will undoubtedly get behind their team - so you better get your popcorn ready for Game 5. It’s going to be a feast.
