In his first get started of the postseason, Curry scored 30 issues to propel the Warriors to the Western Convention semifinals as they defeated the Denver Nuggets 102-98, finishing a 4-1 sequence win.
In the meantime, Antetokounmpo posted 33 issues and 9 rebounds to steer the Greenbacks to a 116-100 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
The Greenbacks additionally wrapped up their sequence 4-1 and now advance to the Japanese Convention semifinals.
The Warriors started their sport sluggishly and located themselves 8 issues down at the beginning of the fourth quarter however, after cleansing up their fouls, gained the fourth quarter 32-20 and outshot the Nuggets 63% to 53% from the ground.
Curry’s 30 issues, 5 rebounds and 5 assists helped neutralize Nuggets megastar Nikola Jokic, who racked up an excellent 30 issues, 19 rebounds and 8 assists.
Reigning MVP Jokic has installed large person performances all over the sequence, however has discovered assist onerous to return through as Denver struggled within the absence of key males Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
After two seasons of lacking out at the playoffs, Wednesday’s victory marked the Warriors’ first playoff sequence win in additional than 1,000 days.
“This night used to be only a bizarre feeling,” Curry advised the media after the sport, “as a result of we hadn’t been there shortly and sought after it so dangerous and more or less made it much more tricky for ourselves, however we nonetheless remembered tips on how to do it which used to be a just right feeling.”
“The fourth quarter used to be near to looking for a method to get it accomplished, get sufficient stops to hurry up the sport, put some power on them, and we had been in a position to try this.”
“Everybody contributed, so it used to be a amusing method to end the sport. It used to be no longer precisely how you could possibly draw it up, however a playoff form of surroundings the place are you able to get the win and get out of right here.”
Greenbacks advance
Antetokounmpo scored 15 of his 33 issues within the first quarter because the Greenbacks merely proved too robust for a Bulls aspect depleted through the absence of two-time All-Big name Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso.
Their playoff sequence used to be tied at 1-1 after two video games, however the protecting champions pulled transparent and gained the ultimate 3 through a mean of 23.3 issues.
“After sport two, the staff knew what the deal used to be,” Antetokounmpo advised ESPN. “We knew what we needed to do, we needed to be determined. We needed to pass available in the market and compete at a top degree.
“We have now were given to do it as a staff. It isn’t a one-man display or two-man display. Now we are going to a unique sequence, enjoying a unique staff, an overly, excellent staff, and expectantly we will be able to do it once more.”
The Greenbacks centered Bulls megastar DeMar DeRozan, double-teaming him 27 occasions — probably the most double groups of a unmarried participant in a playoff sport up to now 3 seasons, consistent with ESPN.
DeRozan used to be restricted to 11 issues and all 10 of his box objective makes an attempt had been contested.
Antetokounmpo and the Greenbacks will play the No. 2 seeds Boston Celtics on Sunday in Sport 1 in their subsequent playoff sequence.
