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In a game where the Golden State Warriors would be without Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney, Stephen Curry showed the will of a champion who would not be making excuses and tried doing everything in his power to win, literally leaving it all out on the floor in a career-best playoff performance.
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In a game where his teammates’ play on both ends of the floor appeared as if they were resigned to losing due to the players being out, Steph Curry showed why he is a former unanimous and two-time MVP and one of the greatest NBA players of all time as he tried to impose his will from the start, scoring the Warriors first five points and making Golden State’s first five field goals, hitting shots with accuracy from everywhere on the court.
Steph Curry x #PhantomCam... Poetry in motion! #StrengthInNumbers
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2019
2nd half coming up on ABC & Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/fu3jYzrlLo
Hahaha. Steph Curry is extremely not normal pic.twitter.com/zje5Hza8IJ
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) June 6, 2019
Besides directly accounting for most of the Warriors’ scoring himself, Curry also had seven assists including this dime to Quinn Cook.
Steph Curry lays it out in front of Quinn Cook! #StrengthInNumbers
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2019
: ABC : Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/mLodwHFbvD
Curry literally did it all for the Warriors in game three, not only leading the team in points and assists, but continuing his torrid rebounding in the playoffs with a team-high eight boards.
Steph Curry playoff games with 8+ rebounds:
— Grant Liffmann (@GrantLiffmann) June 6, 2019
2017: 2 games
2018: 1 game
2019: 5 games
Steph had 17 points in the first quarter and by halftime had scored his NBA Finals best of 25 points in a half while the rest of the team combined for 27.
Steph Curry pours in 25 1st half PTS for the @warriors in Game 3! #StrengthInNumbers #NBAFinals
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2019
: ABC : Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/dDUpzXG3si
Steph Curry at Halftime
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 6, 2019
➖➖➖
25 Points
7 Rebounds
4 Assists
53 FG%
4/8 3PM
Golden State was down eight points at the half and Steph Curry continued to play like a man possessed with reckless abandon, trying to will his team to a win no matter the odds or how his teammates played.
32 PTS, 5 3PM for Steph Curry with 6:30 left in the 3rd! #StrengthInNumbers 65#WeTheNorth 73
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2019
: ABC : Sportsnet
Curry reached a new career-high scoring in the NBA Finals with forty by the end of the third quarter.
A new #NBAFinals career-high in scoring for @StephenCurry30
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 6, 2019
(40 points and counting...) pic.twitter.com/LZVggkxikm
With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Warriors down by thirteen, Curry continued to play like he expected to come back and win the game.
A new #NBAPlayoffs career-high of 45 points for @StephenCurry30 pic.twitter.com/lBKKQ1stcT
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 6, 2019
Despite the reality that the Warriors had gone on a 18-0 run against Toronto in game two, some began to question whether it made sense to have kept Steph in game three or if it would have been wiser to preserve him for game four.
Getting close to plug-pulling time in Oakland. Steph Curry's been awesome -- 45-8-6 on 14/28 FG -- but looks exhausted. Game 4 soon (now?) becomes more important than a longshot comeback attempt tonight.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 6, 2019
But after this tweet from Anthony Slater, Steph would score two more points and dish one more assist, joining a list of nine players to score forty-five or more points in an NBA Finals game, earning high praise from all NBA fans, his teammates and coach and the no-doubt, slam dunk title of Warrior Wonder for game three of these NBA Finals.
Steph Curry (47 PTS) becomes the 9th player in @NBAHistory to score 45+ PTS in the NBA Finals.
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 6, 2019
Michael Jordan (3)
Jerry West (3)
Elgin Baylor
Rick Barry
Wilt Chamberlain
Allen Iverson
LeBron James
Bob Pettit
pic.twitter.com/Jvb8BEFSVK
Although a losing effort, Steph Curry showed us his dominance scoring 47 tonight.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 6, 2019
Let me say that @StephenCurry30 ‘s EFFORT tonight has been the BEST I have seen in yrs in following the @NBA . I am not just talking about his scoring . He is diving on the floor / playing his heart out for his short handed @warriors team
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) June 6, 2019
I don’t care if the Warriors lose by 50, the Raps are a ridiculously good defensive team & have basically sent 2 defenders at Curry the entire game knowing he’s the only offensive threat & Steph has 43 on 50% from the field. If you don’t recognize his greatest that’s on YOU.
— Shawn F Matian, Esq. (@ShawnMatianEsq) June 6, 2019
Steph curry:
— Festus Ezeli (@festus) June 6, 2019
Wide open..... Miss
Back pedaling, defender all over, falling down...... no rim Swish
I don’t understand it Jesus Shuttlesworth
Steph Curry is the greatest shooter ever. Ever.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 6, 2019
We can discuss/debate almost everything. But certain stuff is simply facts
Draymond on Steph Curry’s night. “If I was better, we probably would’ve won that game but he was amazing.” pic.twitter.com/AsySCjzlcI
— The Athletic (@TheAthleticSF) June 6, 2019
Steve Kerr on Stephen Curry’s 47 point effort in #Warriors Game 3 loss:
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) June 6, 2019
“Steph was incredible. The stuff he does... He does things I honestly I don’t think anybody has ever done.” pic.twitter.com/LfsDRWQPMm
Poll
Who was your Warrior Wonder against the Raptors on 6/5/19 in game three?
This poll is closed
-
91%
Steph Curry
-
0%
Draymond Green
-
0%
Andre Iguodala
-
0%
Quinn Cook
-
2%
Jonas Jerebko
-
2%
Andrew Bogut
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2%
DeMarcus Cousins
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0%
Shaun Livingston