Warriors Playoff Rewind: Steph Curry nets Finals record 9 triples in Game 2 vs. Cavs in 2018

Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson combine for 79 points against LeBron James and the Cavs in game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals.

As 22 teams are preparing for the NBA season to kick back into action, the Golden State Warriors will be watching from home. With a league-worst 15-50 record, the Warriors were eliminated from playoff contention prior to the league shutting down due to the coronavirus.

With no playoff hoops on the calendar for the first time in seven years, Warriors Wire is digging back through Golden State’s history. Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s playoff catalog to highlight memorable moments, standout performances and matchups worthy of a rewatch.

For the latest edition of Warriors Playoff Rewind, we look back at Golden State’s last run to a championship.

June 3, 2018

During their time together, the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant have strung together a bevy of notable performances. In-game two of the 2018 NBA Finals, Golden State’s All-Star group added another superb combined effort to their resume.

After a tight overtime battle in the opening game of the Finals, the Warriors cruised to a victory at Oracle Arena behind big numbers from Curry, Thompson and Durant.

Curry notched a game-high 33 points with a record-setting nine 3-pointers in the Finals. The sharpshooting point guard swished 9-of-17 against the Cavaliers from beyond the arc.

After only shooting 9-of-27 as a unit, Curry matched the entire Cavaliers roster from beyond the arc in game 2. The two-time Most Valuable Player added eight dimes and seven boards.

Durant and Thompson rounded out Curry’s record-breaking performance, with each scoring 20 or more, respectively. Durant tallied an efficient 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting with nine rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.

Thompson tacked on 20 points to move Golden State’s trio to 79 combined in their 122-103 victory against the Cavaliers at Oracle Arena.

LeBron James led the Cavs with a near triple-double on 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the file with 13 assists and nine board. Kevin Love added a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. However, it wasn’t enough against Golden State’s high powered offensive attack.

Watch highlights from Curry’s historic Finals performance via YouTube:

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Playoff Rewind: Splash Brothers eliminate Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in 2016 Game 7

Although Klay Thompson’s performance in game six of the 2016 Western Conference Finals lives in playoff lore, the Warriors still had to handle business in game seven before celebrating.

When May has shown up on the calendar in the past, the Golden State Warriors have been busy prepping for an NBA Finals run. However, in 2020 the Warriors are in a different situation. A league-worst 15-50 record has already sealed Golden State’s playoff hopes with 17 games remaining on the slate. Instead of the playoffs, the Warriors have turned their attention to the NBA draft.

With no playoff hoops, Warriors Wire is looking back into Golden State’s postseason history to highlight standout performances and games worthy of a rewatch. For the latest edition of Warriors Playoff Rewind, we’re looking back to 2016.

As famed as Klay Thompson’s epic performance was in game six against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors still had to handle business at Oracle Arena in game seven of the 2016 Western Conference Finals. Before advancing to their second straight NBA Finals, the Warriors had to finish their series comeback against Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in a winner-take-all game in the Bay Area.

May 30, 2016

Just like the start of the series, Oklahoma City jumped out to an early lead. Yet, all the Warriors needed was the third quarter. The Thunder came out of halftime with a six-point lead and ended the third period down 11.

Behind a trio of triples from Stephen Curry, the Warriors outscored Oklahoma City 29-12. The Warriors coasted to victory in the final quarter to advance to the NBA Finals.

Curry finished with a game-high 36 points on 13-of-24 shooting from the field with seven 3-pointers. The two-time MVP added eight assists and five rebounds. Thompson dropped 21 points with six makes from beyond the arc of his own.

Golden State’s defense shined in game seven, holding the Thunder’s offense to only 88 points. Oklahoma City’s All-Star duo of Durant and Westbrook combined for 46 points.

Watch highlights from Golden State’s game seven victory on YouTube:

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Warriors Playoff Rewind: Baron Davis fuels ‘We Believe’ squad with vicious dunk over Andrei Kirilenko in 2007

On May 11, 2007, the NBA arena in Oakland became known as ‘Baron’s house.’

Over the past seven seasons, the Golden State Warriors have built up a steady library of thrilling playoff moments. From Stephen Curry’s long-range jumpers, Draymond Green’s defensive stops and Kevin Durant’s game-sealing daggers, Warriors fans have been spoiled when the calendar turns to May.

However, in the 2020 edition of the playoff dance, the Warriors will be on the outside looking in. A 15-50 record with 17 games remaining has already sealed Golden State’s playoff hopes.

With no playoff hoops on the radar, Warriors Wire is digging back into Golden State’s postseason history for games worthy of a rewatch.

While performances from the Curry and Steve Kerr era Warriors standout, one postseason moment from 2007 will forever hold a special place in Golden State lore.

May 11, 2007

After blitzing past the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the opening series of the playoffs, the darling “We Believe” Warriors faced off against the Utah Jazz in the second round.

Golden State’s magic looked to be running on empty after two straight losses in Utah to open the series. Yet, a trip back to the Bay Area provided a spark for the underdogs.

The Warriors jumped out to a lead in the first quarter and never looked back, controlling the Jazz from start to finish. While the Warriors were up 20 in the fourth period, there were still fireworks left in Oracle Arena.

With just under three minutes remaining in the game, Baron Davis blasted past Deron Williams forcing a matchup at the rim with one of the NBA’s feared shot blockers, Andrei Kirilenko.

Davis proceeded to throw down an emphatic tomahawk slam dunk right over the top of Kirilenko to set the entire state of Bay Area basketball into a ringing frenzy.

The Jazz quickly called a timeout leading to a famous call from ESPN play-by-play voice Mike Tirico — “timeout in Baron’s house.”

Watch the Davis dunk with Tirico’s call via YouTube:

The Warriors earned their first victory of the series that night, 125-105. Davis tallied a game-high 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting with nine assists, six steals and three rebounds. Six different members of the Warriors recorded double-figure scoring numbers against the Jazz in game three.

Despite the Warriors later getting eliminated by the Jazz in game five, Davis’ dunk over Kirilenko is near the top of almost every list in Golden State playoff memories.

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