SBNation.com - NBA Playoffs: Stephen Curry returns with a vengeance to save the Warriorshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2016-05-10T08:52:43-04:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/114098592016-05-10T08:52:43-04:002016-05-10T08:52:43-04:00Klay Thompson was there to be Steph's hype-man
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I'm Back!" <a href="https://t.co/uOBuyjhCEX">pic.twitter.com/uOBuyjhCEX</a></p>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/729920651465789440">May 10, 2016</a>
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<p>Hype-man Klay Thompson is your best basketball friend. He'll take care of things while you're hurt and tend to what needs tending -- then when you return he'll have your back, making sure everyone knows you ARE back.</p>
<p>Stephen Curry's ludicrous 17-point overtime performance will be plastered everywhere today -- it deserves to be. Far too many will overlook Klay's critical contribution as BFF. Not anymore.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.25em">* * *</p>
<h2>Steph Curry's amazing 17-point overtime</h2>
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https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11648412/klay-thompsonsteph-curry-hype-man-im-back-warriors-blazers-nba-playoffsJames Dator2016-05-10T08:21:24-04:002016-05-10T08:21:24-04:00It's safe to come out, Steph Curry's gone now
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<p>Good morning. We have that and more in Tuesday's NBA newsletter.</p> <p>Good morning! Let's basketball.</p>
<p><b>HEAVENLY FURY:</b> Stephen Curry is, uh, back. As he told the Portland crowd in overtime. As he was scoring 17 points. Seventeen points, in overtime. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11647798/stephen-curry-overtime-warriors-vines-highlights-blazers-game-four">An NBA record for the regular season, the postseason, any damn season</a>. Stephen Curry started 0-for-9 from three, and the Blazers matched the Warriors bucket for bucket in regulation. C.J. McCollum was on one. Damian Lillard was ON one. Steph Curry is on something else entirely. There are no words, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11647932/stephen-curry-overtime-warriors-game-4-highlights-charles-barkley/in/11409859">not even from Charles Barkley</a>. That Bradley Cooper movie <i>Limitless</i>? Actually a documentary about Steph Curry. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/10/11647246/blazers-warriors-2016-final-score-nba-playoff-results-stephen-curry-OT-game-4-unreal/in/11409859">Warriors win 132-125</a>.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/10/11647940/stephen-curry-cyborg-blazers-warriors-overtime-nba-playoffs">Rodger Sherman makes a compelling case that Steph is a cyborg.</a> We don't have any proof to the contrary, is all I'm saying.</p>
<p>Dear God. I wouldn't believe it had I not seen it. I need a preacher or a shrink or something.</p>
<p><b>A DIFFERENT SPORT ENTIRELY:</b> No offense to fans of the Raptors and the Heat, but it's hard to get excited about their overtime game given what came next. No offense to you, Dwyane Wade, having yourself a throwback series! <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/9/11646394/heat-raptors-2016-final-score-nba-playoff-results-game-4-ot-dwyane-wade">No offense to the Heat, who drew up even with the Raptors thanks to a 94-87 win.</a> We just can't even with y'all right now, though.</p>
<p><b>ON THE AIR TONIGHT ...</b></p>
<p>I suppose we'll try to collect ourselves for Tuesday's game.</p>
<p>Thunder at Spurs, Game 5, 8 p.m. ET, TNT (Series tied 2-2)</p>
<p><b>INSIDE THE ROOM:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-return-of-stephen-curry--inside-his-magical--record-setting-night-085959625.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma">Woj goes behind the scenes on Curry's MRI three weeks ago and his return on Monday.</a></p>
<p><b>[MOUTH AGAPE]:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/10/11647852/blazers-warriors-steph-curry-paul-allen-overtime">Steph turned Mortified Paul Allen into a damn meme.</a></p>
<p><b>THANKS BE TO BAD OFFICIATING:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/10/11647408/shaun-livingston-ejection-warriors-blazers-game-4-bad-referee/in/11409859">Shaun Livingston got ejected for being angry the refs missed a hit to his dome</a>. Livingston getting ejected forced Steve Kerr to play Curry longer than he'd wanted to. Therefore, thanks for blowing that call, refs! And thanks be to Kerr for ignoring minutes limits. I'm skeptical Ian Clark would have had 17 in OT. Maybe 13 tops.</p>
<p><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.gq.com/story/god-bless-russell-westbrook">GOD BLESS RUSSELL WESTBROOK, MAY HE NEVER CHANGE</a>.</b></p>
<p><b>EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAPTORS-HEAT 1:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/9/11647214/dwyane-wades-crunch-time-layup-unbelievably-stops-on-back-of-rim-vine/in/11409859">Dwyane Wade's layup ... just ... stops on the rim</a>.</p>
<p><b>EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAPTORS-HEAT 2: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/9/11647116/goran-dragic-deflected-loose-ball-with-face/in/11409859">This is Goran Dragic getting hit in the face with the ball. AGAIN.</a></p>
<p><b>OK BUT FOR REAL:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/9/11645852/bismack-biyombo-dunks-all-over-amare-stoudemire-to-start-game-4/in/11409859">Heat-Raptors got off to such a promising start with this incredible Bismack Biyombo dunk and flex on Amar'e Stoudemire!</a></p>
<p><b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/9/11639144/how-and-when-to-do-thunder-guard-cam-paynes-extremely-popular-new">ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS IS CAM PAYNE DANCING.</a></b></p>
<p><b>PURE MIAMI:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/9/11647014/heat-fan-gets-hyped-for-dunk-that-does-not-count/in/11409859">Bro sitting baseline gets super hyped for an OK undefended Josh McRoberts dunk that clearly didn't count because a foul was called before he took off.</a> Mildly stunned said bro was wearing his shades on top of his head instead of over his eyes.</p>
<p><b>SKY'S THE LIMIT:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.excellesports.com/news/elena-delle-donne-chicago-sky-wnba/">Why Elena Delle Donne, the best player in the WNBA, is about to get even better.</a></p>
<p><b>EXEC OF THE DECADE:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/9/11640584/rc-buford-nba-executive-of-the-year">R.C. Buford of the Spurs won his second Executive of the Year award.</a> More notable: Sam Hinkie picked up three votes. This cabal is like Hydra, man.</p>
<p><b>ONLY IN NEW YORK:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/9/11646098/frank-isola-and-mclovin-from-superbad--perfect-chaos-knicks-twitter/in/11409859">A Knicks beat writer gets into a Twitter beef with the actor who played McLovin in <i>Superbad.</i></a></p>
<p><b>YES:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/9/11639100/dwyane-wade-canadian-national-anthem-shooting-heat-raptors-nba-playoffs/in/11409859">10 extremely Canadian punishments for Dwyane Wade, who took practice shots during "O Canada" before Game 3.</a></p>
<p><b>OFFICIAL:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2016/5/9/11643174/dave-joerger-to-be-sacramentos-next-head-coach?_ga=1.94174933.933561228.1448282218">The Kings hire Dave Joerger.</a> Flannery and I will have some more coach talk later on Tuesday. <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15495357/the-kings-new-coach-tools-turn-things-sacramento">Here's Zach Lowe on how Joerger fits with DeMarcus Cousins and the rest of the roster</a>.</p>
<p><b>INTERESTING:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/05/the_reason_the_cleveland_caval.html">Chris Haynes on how the Cavaliers became closer than ever</a>.</p>
<p><b>HMM:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/9/11635746/atlanta-hawks-salary-free-agents-al-horford-keep-together">Yaron Weitzman argues that the Hawks shouldn't blow it up just because they can't beat the Cavaliers.</a></p>
<p><b>EXTREMELY COOL:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11646354/devin-booker-suns-lottery-jenna-warren-video">Devin Booker will take his friend Jenna, a 16-year-old fan with Down Syndrome, to the NBA draft lottery next week.</a></p>
<p>Happy Tuesday. See you next time.</p>
<p style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.25em">* * *</p>
<h2>Stephen Curry's MVP season was on another level</h2>
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https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/10/11648242/steph-curry-heavenly-fury-gmibTom Ziller2016-05-10T08:00:05-04:002016-05-10T08:00:05-04:00Damian Lillard took Stephen Curry to another level
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<p>Curry and Lillard both take their teams to a different level, but it's tough to match the MVP. That and everything else from a wild Monday in the NBA Playoffs. </p> <p><span>Stephen Curry</span> and <span>Damian Lillard</span> kept one-upping one another. They traded threes, drives and dimes as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> played out an instant classic in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series on Monday.</p>
<p>It was a battle of two of the league's best point guards, and Lillard was holding his own -- maybe even outplaying the MVP -- through four quarters in Curry's return to action.</p>
<p>Then overtime happened, and Curry entered another stratosphere. He scored the first 12 Warriors points in OT and an NBA record 17 in the extra quarter on his way to 40 points as the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/10/11647246/blazers-warriors-2016-final-score-nba-playoff-results-stephen-curry-OT-game-4-unreal">Warriors beat the Blazers, 132-125</a>, to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Warriors will have a chance to close it out on Wednesday in Oakland -- and with Curry back and in full force, they appear ready to do so.</p>
<p>The Warriors had played well without him as he missed the first three games of the series with a right knee injury. They struggled against a one-man wrecking crew, however -- Lillard led the Blazers to a Game 3 win with a superb fourth quarter as he scored 40 points. It turns out, the answer to a one-man wrecking crew is getting one of your own. When Lillard took over in the fourth quarter again in Game 4, Curry was there to respond. After missing his first nine three-point attempts, he nailed one to give the Warriors a 103-100 lead with 4:35 left.</p>
<p>Lillard and Curry scored or assisted on the final 22 points of regulation. They both take their teams to a different level when they're on -- and Game 4 was a perfect example.</p>
<p>Curry was the better player on Tuesday, leading a charge in overtime that didn't seem possible. After seeming to rush jump shots in the first three quarters, in overtime he looked like he hadn't missed a game in ages.</p>
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<p>Curry had to match Lillard, he had no other choice. Once he did, he had an announcement to make: He's back.</p>
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<h3>3 other things</h3>
<h4>The Blazers' greatness was overshadowed</h4>
<p>Lillard and C.J. McCollum did their best with 36 and 24 points, respectively, but it just wasn't good enough against the NBA's MVP. They fought and fought against the league's best regular season team of all time, and they nearly came out on top -- and they deserve a lot of credit for that. After going cold in the third quarter, Lillard and McCollum could have easily folded. But that's the opposite of what this Blazers team has done all season. They weren't even supposed to make the playoffs, let alone the second round. Now they're fighting toe-to-toe against one of the best teams ever. The Blazers were bettered by Curry on Monday, but the future is bright for Portland. They don't have a Curry themselves, but they don't need one: They have Damian Lillard.</p>
<h4>
<span>Dwyane Wade</span> has no interest in aging</h4>
<p>Vintage Wade was on full display for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> in Game 4 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a>. He went off for 30 points as the Heat evened the series at 2-2 with a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/9/11646394/heat-raptors-2016-final-score-nba-playoff-results-game-4-ot-dwyane-wade">94-87 overtime win</a>. He's averaging 22 points per game in the playoffs, and 27.3 against the Raptors. On Monday, he carried the Heat for the second game in a row. It was an ugly win, but Wade has the Heat in the mix -- and a potential matchup against his buddy <span>LeBron James</span> in the Eastern Conference Finals has to have him excited.</p>
<h4>
<span>DeMar DeRozan</span> cannot find himself</h4>
<p>It was another rough night for the two Raptors stars, as DeRozan and <span>Kyle Lowry</span> combined for 19 points on 6-of-28 shooting. Lowry at least won Game 3 for the Raptors, but DeRozan has struggled to get anything going all series. He didn't even play the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter and is averaging only 17.5 points per game in the series on 35 percent shooting. The Raptors have no creativity on the offensive end of the court and DeRozan isn't helping. He's unable to get into the lane, and he cannot buy a bucket. If the fourth quarter is any indication, the Raptors might not be counting on DeRozan for much longer.</p>
<h3>Play of the night</h3>
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<p>Curry had no business grabbing this offensive rebound and making this bucket. But he also had no business scoring the first 12 Warriors points of overtime and going off for an NBA-record 17 in the extra frame, and 40 in the game. So flex away, MVP.</p>
<h3>3 fun things</h3>
<p>No one could believe Curry's overtime. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11647932/stephen-curry-overtime-warriors-game-4-highlights-charles-barkley">Not Charles Barkley</a>, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/10/11647852/blazers-warriors-steph-curry-paul-allen-overtime">not Blazers owner Paul Allen</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11647798/stephen-curry-overtime-warriors-vines-highlights-blazers-game-four">It was one of the greatest overtime performances in playoff history.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/9/11647116/goran-dragic-deflected-loose-ball-with-face">The Heat-Raptors game wasn't so much fun. Goran Dragic got hit in the face with the ball.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11647798/stephen-curry-overtime-warriors-vines-highlights-blazers-game-four"></a></p>
<h3>Scores</h3>
<p>Heat 94, Raptors 87 OT (<a href="http://www.hothothoops.com/2016/5/9/11647242/five-stars-heat-94-raptors-87-ot">Hot Hot Hoops recap</a> | <a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2016/5/9/11647222/raptors-deservedly-lose-94-87-series-tied-2-2">Raptors HQ recap</a>)</p>
<p>Warriors 132, Blazers 125 OT (<a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/5/9/11647812/warriors-blazers-game-four-steph-curry-2016-playoffs">Golden State of Mind recap</a> | <a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2016/5/9/11647118/nba-playoffs-blazers-warriors-stephen-curry-damian-lillard">Blazers' Edge recap</a>)</p>
<p style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.25em">* * *</p>
<h2>Stephen Curry's MVP season was on another level</h2>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/10/11647248/2016-nba-playoff-scores-stephen-curry-OT-record-warriors-blazers-damian-lillard-heat-raptorsLiam Boylan-Pett2016-05-10T07:18:19-04:002016-05-10T07:18:19-04:00Steph Curry is a basketball cyborg
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<p>For a while, Steph Curry looked capable of failure, and of uncertainty -- like a human. But he's a damn terminator, and Monday night he terminated everything he came across in overtime, the best overtime performance in NBA history.</p> <p>I've gotta give the entity that created unstoppable basketball machine <span>Stephen Curry</span> some credit. For about three weeks there, up until the fourth quarter of Monday night's <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Warriors</a>-Blazers instant classic, I thought Steph Curry might be human.</p>
<p>Curry suffered an ankle injury against the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockets</a>, then came back and suffered another knee injury. It took him almost three weeks to recover from that knee injury, which pushed back his return date a couple of times. And when he finally took the court against Portland in Game 4 on Monday, he looked off. While Curry's nimble passing, finishing ability, and quick defensive hands were present, his shot was seemingly gone.</p>
<p>The player coming off the greatest shooting season in NBA history missed his first nine three-point attempts. Nine! By his season average, he should've hit about four. Instead, he missed all nine, and Blazers-Warriors was en route to overtime instead of a double-digit Golden State victory in regulation.</p>
<p>Curry was doing human things. Humans have flawed, injury-prone limbs. A human unable to play basketball for a few weeks might lose some of the muscle memory required to throw a basketball through a hoop. A human's performance might spontaneously wane. A human might experience self-doubt.</p>
<p>Then, Curry flipped the switch. (Humans do not have switches.)</p>
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<p>Curry played what is quite possibly the best overtime anybody has ever played in an NBA game. He had 17 points, the most any player has ever scored in an NBA overtime, regular season or postseason. Sixty-plus years of games ending in ties, and nobody has ever scored 17 points in the additional five minutes. That makes sense! Seventeen points is so many to score in five minutes!</p>
<p>Some of it was his trademark -- he hit three threes, all deep, all unassisted. Sometimes there were hands in his face. Sometimes he was wide open. Sometimes he dribbled into space and pulled up. Sometimes he needed to create the space himself with a dizzying array of direction-changing dribbles. Didn't matter. No extenuating factor fazed him. His overtime shots were perfect, some not even rustling the rim. If Steph Curry were human, he would not be able to lock in like this. But he did it three times in three tries, right when his team needed him.</p>
<p>But it wasn't just Steph Curry doing Steph Curry things: he also grabbed an offensive board, scored and flexed.</p>
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<p>If Steph Curry were human, his game would have weaknesses. Does he? He's the undisputed best shooter of all time, an immaculate ball-handler whose pregame dribbling routine is as famous as his pregame shooting routine. He's an exquisite, creative passer, an effective, inventive finisher around the basket, a nimble defender who leads the NBA in steals, a basketball savant who passes to players before they even realize they're open, and he's pretty fast, too. If you think I'm overselling Curry ... which of these things is wrong? And on top of all that, here he is recording a putback bucket with the game on the line in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Sure, Curry looked rusty at first. But metal-based things are supposed to accumulate rust. He knocked it off, and then he was mechanically perfect again.</p>
<p>The only hitch is Steph's emotion. Steph looked into the camera and yelled "I'M BACK" after a big overtime three. <iframe src="https://vine.co/v/iQYJbLWUOEl/embed/simple" frameborder="0" height="600" width="600"></iframe>
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<p>Could a cyborg do that? Could a cyborg have that swagger? Could a cyborg comprehend its own storyline -- going away, coming back more unstoppable than ever -- and put that into words at exactly the right time?</p>
<p>Oh, yeah, that's literally what the most famous cyborg in cyborg history did:</p>
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<p>Steph Curry's a terminator, and Monday night he terminated the Blazers. He may be disguised as a puny human being. Do not believe his exterior. He is equipped with the best guns, and he's the world's greatest sharpshooter. But he's also impenetrable to bullets and can beat you senseless in a fistfight. Do not engage him like you engage pathetic, fallible humans. You will die. You need to come up with something greater and more creative to kill him.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, the NBA's MVP will be announced. Curry will win, we already know that. But the question is whether the voting will be unanimous. It's possible some NBA pundit will argue Curry can't be "most valuable" because he's on one of the best teams ever constructed, a deep super-squad stocked with other great shooters and incredible defenders. Their argument received some support when a Curry-less Golden State squad rolled to a series win over Houston and a 2-0 start against Portland. How can Curry be "most valuable" if his team crushes opponents without him?</p>
<p>Monday night is why. Golden State was faced with a talented Portland team clicking on all cylinders, with <span>Damian Lillard</span> and <span>C.J. McCollum</span> playing their finest, answering every call. The Warriors were without two important cogs in <span>Andrew Bogut</span> and <span>Shaun Livingston</span>, both ejected.</p>
<p>So, Curry played flawless basketball until victory was unavoidable. Perhaps Golden State could've won without Curry. But there is simply no other basketball player on earth capable of doing what Curry did in overtime. I'd say no other human, but of course, Curry isn't.</p>
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<h2>Stephen Curry's MVP season was on another level</h2>
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https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/10/11647940/stephen-curry-cyborg-blazers-warriors-overtime-nba-playoffsRodger Sherman2016-05-10T02:21:27-04:002016-05-10T02:21:27-04:00Chuck had no words to describe Steph
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<p>Stephen Curry <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11647798/stephen-curry-overtime-warriors-vines-highlights-blazers-game-four" target="_blank">exploded for a NBA record 17 overtime points to send the</a> Warriors to a Game 4 victory on Monday night. The overtime session was so impressive, you could pull hundreds of words from a thesaurus to describe it. Charles Barkley tried to find the right words to put it into perspective and just couldn't.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"That what I. That. That was a. That. That was on--" - a man who just saw Steph Curry drop 17 in OT <a href="https://t.co/GFE8wjwgqd">pic.twitter.com/GFE8wjwgqd</a></p>
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) <a href="https://twitter.com/KennyDucey/status/729914911241965568">May 10, 2016</a>
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<p>Ultimately he settled with "that's unbelievable." Yes, Chuck. Yes it was.</p>
<p>When Curry gets rolling he leaves analysts at a loss for words and opposing owners simply stunned.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.25em">* * *</p>
<h2>Steph Curry's amazing 17-point overtime</h2>
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https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11647932/stephen-curry-overtime-warriors-game-4-highlights-charles-barkleyMark Sandritter2016-05-10T01:59:15-04:002016-05-10T01:59:15-04:00Curry just played the best overtime in NBA history
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<p>Stephen Curry was somewhat laboring through his return following an extended absence after a knee injury. Sure he scored 23 points in regulation and flashed his classic flair around the rim, but he just wasn't the same Steph Curry. He made just 2-of-13 three-point attempts during regulation, with a number of shots way off.</p>
<p>Then came an overtime performance for the ages.</p>
<p>Whatever rust was on Curry melted off in the extra period as he went into <i>NBA Jam</i> mode. He didn't just get rolling, he re-wrote the NBA record book and wrecked the entire city of Portland in the process.</p>
<p>He started the scoring in OT with a simple shot near the rim. Then he hit a three.</p>
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<p>Those two baskets opened the flood gates and a tidal wave of classic Stephen Curry came pouring through.</p>
<p>He did it all during the scoring barrage, even getting down low for an offensive put back he had no business making.</p>
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<p>It seemed as if Curry played with a touch of uncertainty during regulation. He was back, but he wasn't really sure if he was back. That uncertainty flew out the window and he made sure everyone in the building knew it after he buried a deep three.</p>
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<p>He scored the first 12 points for the Warriors in overtime. Portland had matched Golden State toe-for-toe and huge shot for huge shot up to that point. But there is no player or team in the league that can match en fuego Curry.</p>
<p>And of course, Curry put the exclamation point on it all with a dagger. The shot sealed the game for the Warriors and gave Golden State its edge back. The Warriors were no longer a wounded, vulnerable team. They are once again the world beaters they were all season and Steph is here to make sure everyone knows it.</p>
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<p>The only thing that rose quicker in overtime than Curry's point total was the Warriors confidence level. They proved they could win without Curry, but it was different. By the end of overtime, they were back to oozing confidence, celebrating shots before they went in and once again the big, bad bully in town.</p>
<p>Curry's effort wasn't just impressive, it was historic. He scored 17 points during overtime, the most any player has ever scored during an overtime period in NBA history.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Stephen Curry's 17 points in OT are the most ever scored in overtime of ANY game (regular season or postseason) <a href="https://t.co/f2y089uOGZ">pic.twitter.com/f2y089uOGZ</a></p>
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/729910135917846528">May 10, 2016</a>
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<p>As Game 4 played on, questions about Curry and the Warriors seemingly increased. Was he healthy, could they shake off the rust and many more. Then Curry turned in arguably the five best minutes of his already illustrious career and suddenly Golden State had all of the answers.</p>
<p style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.25em">* * *</p>
<h2>Stephen Curry's MVP season was on another level</h2>
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https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2016/5/10/11647798/stephen-curry-overtime-warriors-vines-highlights-blazers-game-fourMark Sandritter2016-05-10T01:43:17-04:002016-05-10T01:43:17-04:00Stephen Curry leads Warriors to OT win in Game 4
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<p>Curry scored 40 points after catching fire in the fourth and overtime to lead the Warriors to a 132-125 win as they took a 3-1 series lead.</p> <p><span>Stephen Curry</span> is back, and it's as if he never left. Curry scored and NBA record 17 points in overtime and 40 in the game as the Golden State Warriors stormed back to beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 132-125, to take Game 4 of the second round playoff series on Monday.</p>
<p>The win gave the Warriors a 3-1 series lead. With Curry returning to the court and looking like his old self, the Warriors appear primed to return to the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year.</p>
<p>Damian Lillard had 36 points and and C.J. McCollum added 24 in the loss as the Blazers gave up a game they could have won.</p>
<p>The Blazers came out firing with Curry on the bench to start the game, jumping out to a 21-5 lead. The <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Warriors</a> settled down and chipped away at the lead, however, and the Blazers led 26-18 at the end of one. The Blazers came out firing again in the second and built up a 13-point lead, but the Warriors went on one of their patented 10-0 runs to put themselves right back into the game. The Blazers had an answer of their own after <span>Shaun Livingston</span> was <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/10/11647408/shaun-livingston-ejection-warriors-blazers-game-4-bad-referee">ejected for arguing a missed call</a> and led 67-57 at the half.</p>
<p>Curry, <span>Klay Thompson</span> and <span>Draymond Green</span> stepped up in the third as the Warriors stormed back to take their first lead of the night at 79-78 and led 86-85 to start the fourth. There, Curry led the charge as the Warriors built a five-point lead, but the Blazers had no quit in them. They fought back with McCollum and Lillard threes to retake the lead at 99-97 with 6:35 to play. The teams traded buckets then let Curry and Lillard take turns taking over.</p>
<p>Curry hit his first three of the game to give the Warriors a 103-100 lead. Lillard answered with a driving layup, a three of his own and two free throws. Curry hit another deep three and Lillard hit a step-back jumper. Curry found Green for a dunk, then Lillard found <span>Mason Plumlee</span> for a bucket in the paint.</p>
<p>The Blazers led by three, but Curry found <span>Harrison Barnes</span>, who nailed a three to tie the game at 111 with 52 seconds left. The shot ended up forcing overtime as both Lillard and Curry missed opportunities to put their team up in the final 30 seconds.</p>
<p>Curry kept it going in overtime, scoring the Warriors' first 12 points of overtime as they jumped out to a 123-118 lead with 1:51 left. This was the dagger that ended it.</p>
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<p>The Warriors were 10-0 following a loss this season.</p>
<p>Game 5 is at Golden State on Wednesday.</p>
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<h2>NBA 2K16 can't keep up with Curry because he's so good</h2>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/10/11647246/blazers-warriors-2016-final-score-nba-playoff-results-stephen-curry-OT-game-4-unrealLiam Boylan-Pett2016-05-10T00:26:35-04:002016-05-10T00:26:35-04:00Shaun Livingston ejected after ref misses call
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<p>Livingston was hit in the head and tossed from the game. </p> <p><span>Shaun Livingston</span> thought he got fouled on a lay-in with 1:40 left in the first half of Game 4 in the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Golden State Warriors</a>-<a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Portland Trail Blazers</a> series. (He was -- <span>Damian Lillard</span> whacked him across the head.)</p>
<p>So he let referee Scott Foster know it, yelling at Foster as the next play developed. Foster wasn't having it. He stopped the play to ring Livingston up with a technical foul. But he didn't stop there; Foster had a quick trigger and whistled Livingston for another tech just seconds after the first, ejecting him from the game.</p>
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<p>And he did it with gusto, throwing Livingston out of the game like he was calling a third strike <a href="https://twitter.com/nick_pants/status/729885143737892864">a la Frank Drebin in <i>The Naked Gun</i></a>. Here's the missed foul:</p>
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<p>Livingston was right to be upset about the missed call, but he might have overdone it on the name-calling.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Well then <a href="https://t.co/g80o6Vun91">pic.twitter.com/g80o6Vun91</a></p>
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/729884506572914689">May 10, 2016</a>
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<p>It was a quick trigger, but Livingston should have kept his cool. The Warriors have Stephen Curry back, but Livingston was still expected to play big minutes.</p>
<p style="text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.25em">* * *</p>
<h2>Stephen Curry's amazing 17-point overtime</h2>
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https://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/10/11647408/shaun-livingston-ejection-warriors-blazers-game-4-bad-refereeLiam Boylan-Pett