At one level within the third quarter, the Denver Nuggets regarded primed handy Golden State their first lack of the collection.
They’d performed every little thing proper, gathering simply sufficient momentum to place collectively a five-point lead behind Nikola Jokic and a resurgent Aaron Gordon. A scorching whistle noticed Jokic’s main defenders, Kevon Looney and Draymond Inexperienced, in deep foul hassle uncomfortably early within the second half. The opportunity of a aggressive collection briefly flashed earlier than the Warriors’ eyes.
However expertise trumps methodology; what’s slightly deficit for a workforce that’s endured a lifetime of playoff adversity? Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Inexperienced, specifically, have comeback playoff wins all the way down to a science. They’ve performed their fair proportion of Recreation 3s earlier than, totally on the street. Traditionally, they’ve performed poorly in them, going 13-11 since 2013 in Recreation 3s.
Greatest consider the core got here into this Recreation 3 with some perspective; no lead is insurmountable and momentum can all the time be stopped.
“They went on their runs and we caught with them,” Inexperienced mentioned.
A stoic Thompson hit just a few ice-cold 3-pointers when leads slipping. Curry ran a mile off-ball to search out his clutch threes, too, with some robust finishes on the rim on a gimpy foot. And Inexperienced delivered his signature: with 30 seconds left, the Warriors clinging to a 5 level lead, he stripped Jokic one-on-one to seal an eventual 118-113 victory on Thursday evening to present Golden State a cushty 3-0 collection lead.
A playoff nail-biter left Denver’s house crowd shattered, however that is routine for the Warriors.
“These guys have been across the block just a few instances,” coach Steve Kerr mentioned. “They aren’t fazed by these things.”
Inexperienced’s huge steal thrilled, but in addition gave most of his teammates deja vu. They’ve seen him strip gamers like Anthony Davis to save lots of wins and block LeBron James on the rim within the NBA Finals. He’s met Kyle Lowry and Damian Lillard in huge moments on the rim, too. Now add Jokic to the checklist.
“I wasn’t shocked,” Thompson mentioned. “I’ve seen him do this quite a few instances on the finish of video games.”
That Inexperienced had 5 fouls as he bodied and swiped at Jokic confirmed his guts and confidence that his dangerous defensive performs in huge conditions usually include a reward.
“You may’t play protection the final 4 minutes of the sport and fear about fouling out,” he mentioned. “If I do this I’m doing my workforce a disservice … I’m going in opposition to the Joker. I've to be keen to get all six of my fouls.”
The playoff pressures didn’t appear to faze Curry a lot, both. Even off a current foot sprain and on a minutes restriction, Curry has been filling his restricted minutes with wildly environment friendly basketball. In two video games heading into Friday, Curry was averaging 25 factors in 22 minutes taking pictures 50% from three on eight makes an attempt per recreation.
Bumped as much as half-hour in Recreation 3, Curry shot 9-of-17 with a team-leading 27 factors. And Thompson stored a good keel all through, scoring a team-leading six 3-pointers on 13 makes an attempt.
“Steph is completely calm in these conditions. Draymond goes to make performs on the market,” Kerr mentioned. “You've gotten guys that make performs and execute underneath stress.”
That the core’s calm playoff method is infectious may set the Warriors aside on this playoff run. Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins — each new to the playoff scene — have been unfazed and vital. Poole, a spark plug in his first playoff look, performed by a sore elbow, hitting three 3-pointers within the first half and scoring 27 factors total, most driving to the rim.
Typically chided for no taking part in aggressive within the common season, Wiggins is taking part in with power on a much bigger stage. His nook three-pointer late within the fourth quarter erased Denver’s try at a late comeback and his offensive rebound caught between three Nuggets gamers resulting in Poole’s twisting layup was the dagger.
“I’ve been saying the final couple of video games, Wiggins has been taking part in unbelievable basketball,” Inexperienced mentioned. “He’s been doing the little stuff all three video games this collection.”
Wiggins might not be lighting up the scoreboard, however he collected six rebounds so as to add to a team-leading 23 whole within the collection.
And there’s Gary Payton II — who wasn’t even a lock on the season’s begin to make the roster — whose excellent scoring evening (3-of-3 from 3) was only a cherry on high of his lockdown defensive play.
The world knew of Curry, Thompson, Inexperienced and Looney’s championship blood. They’re studying now that their latest supporting forged is true there with them.
“You bought to present credit score to guys who present up within the playoffs,” Inexperienced mentioned. “As a result of that is simply not a standard factor round this league. You go searching, and a few guys that you just suppose are guys will not be guys within the playoffs.”