With the basketball world still digesting the implications of the Chicago Bulls' Game 1 win over the Miami Heat on Monday night, Stephen Curry force-fed them the Golden State Warriors' upset chance in their Western Conference semifinal matchup with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Warriors had staked a four-point lead over the first 24 minutes, bolstered by the play of their should-have-been All-Star who tallied 10 points and five assists before intermission.
Still the game was lacking the magical moments that his six-game showing against the Denver Nuggets has made seem a near certainty.
It didn't take long for his highlight reel to start filling up out of the break, however. He drilled a three-pointer on the Warriors' second possession of the third quarter, then added a step-back jumper on the ensuing trip.
He scored Golden State's first eight points of the period, then assisted on its next five. After a Tim Duncan free throw cut the Warriors' lead to six at the 4:10 mark, Curry embarked on an individual 14-2 run, stretching the margin to 18, at 90-72.
With a lightning-quick release, in-the-gym range and handles to free himself from tight quarters, Curry's closing in on the realm of the unguardables. Even a defensive unit as strong and cohesive as San Antonio's can only do so much when the rim starts growing with each successive shot ripping its way through.
Golden State holds a 104-96 lead with just 1:57 left in regulation, as the Warriors look to win a game in San Antonio for the first time since Feb. 14, 1997.
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