Curry Sets Game 7 Record to Help Warriors Secure 2nd Round Spot v James’ Lakers

Stephen Curry dropped a 50-burger on the Kings to help the Warriors take a 4-3 series win and a place in the 2023 Playoffs 2nd round where LeBron James and the Lakers are waiting.

The sixth-seed Warriors booked a first-round clash against third-seed Sacramento Kings full of confidence, having had their best-ever season in 17 years.

Kings coach Mike Brown, who also doubles as Nigeria’s men’s national team coach, won the 2022/23 National Basketball Association (NBA) Coach of the Year award.

Star guard De’Aaron Fox was given the inaugural Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year award. Clutch games are those where the margin between teams is five points or less at any point in the final 5:00.

This season, De’Aaron Fox scored 194 points in 39 such games for the Kings. In fact, he shot better from the field in those moments (53%) than he did at all other times (51%).

The Kings were the best offensive team in the league, while the Warriors, with a record of 33-8, were one of the worst teams on the road.

Everything looked to be in favour of the Kings, and rightfully, they took the first two games of the series (126-123, 114-106), which were played at the Golden 1 Center.

The Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, won the next two games (114-97, 126-125), which were played at the Oracle Arena, to even the series 2-2.

The Warriors beat the Kings 123-116 on the road to win Game 5 and take a 3-2 series lead, but Malik Monk inspired the Kings to a 118-99 win in Game 6 to force a Game 7.

It was a win or burst for the defending champions on the road, and Steph Curry took matters into his own hands, playing one of the games never seen in NBA history to power his side on.

Curry scored 50 points, which is the highest number of points by any player in the history of the NBA in a Game 7. He added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal.

CURRY TO THE RECORD BOOKS.
MOST POINTS EVER IN A GAME 7.

50 POINTS.
7 TRIPLES.

CHEF IN #PLAYOFFMODE pic.twitter.com/6KVKfunK1k

— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2023

This performance helped the Warriors claim a 120-100 victory and secure their spot in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

The win also marked the first time in NBA history that a team seeded 6th or lower has come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.

Curry’s 50-point performance in Game 7 surpassed Kevin Durant’s 48-point effort in 2021 to set the record for the most points scored in a Game 7 in NBA history.

The Warriors will now face the Lakers in the 2nd round of the playoffs, and Curry’s stunning performance in Game 7 will have given his team a significant boost of confidence heading into the matchup.

Most Points in Game 7 in NBA History

1. Stephen Curry – 50 points (Warriors at Kings – 2023)
2. Kevin Durant – 48 points (Nets v Bucks – 2021)
3. Sam Jones – 47 points (Celtics v Cincinnati Royals – 1963)
4. Dominique Wilkins – 47 points (Hawks at Celtics – 1988)
5. Luka Doncic – 46 points (Mavs at Clippers – 2021
6. Kevin Johnson – 46 points (Suns v Rockets – 1995)
7. LeBron James – 45 points