Stephen Curry's 35 Points Help Golden State Take A 2-1 Lead Over Houston In Western Conference F

Curry Makes All Seven Shots In 3rd Quarter, Warriors Win By 41 Points

Andre Iguodala the Golden State Warriors tries to deflect a pass by James Harden of the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals at The Oracle in Oakland, Calif. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. May 20, 2018.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Oakland, Calif. — Stephen Curry broke out of a shooting slump to score 18 points in the third quarter on the Golden State Warriors' way to a 126-85 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday.

The Warriors lead the series 2-1. It was the Warriors largest margin of victory in a playoff game for the franchise. No importance to Golden State, but the Warriors also set a playoff record for a streak of home wins.

Besides those nuggets, it was the tw0-time MVP of the NBA who had made only 3 of 20 shots behind the 3-point line in the first two game of the series, the biggest story of the Game 3.

Curry, who missed 8 of 11 shots in the first half, finished with 35 points, six rebounds, and one assist. Overall he made 13 of 23 shots from the floor, 10 of 12 made baskets in the second half.

He made all seven of his shots from the field, including two 3-pointers in the third quarter. Between the third and fourth quarter, Curry made eight-straight baskets. At this point he was not only in the zone, he was controlling it.

“No matter what questions I was being asked over the first two games or what the expectation was, I had the highest expectation for myself,” Curry said following the game. “You’ve just got to find whatever you want to get going. Obviously, it felt good and you want to use that energy. But it’s one game. I’ve got to do it again.”

Curry’s lackluster play has been a talking point the last three days, but the noise is calm for now until tipoff on May 22 at the Oracle. As Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of the game and Curry’s performance, “the dam broke.”

Everybody was trying to will him early t making one of those threes. He was missing,” Kerr said of Curry, who missed five of six 3-pointers in the first quarter. “Then once the dam broke in the third quarter, fans are just so happy when Steph scores. There is just this synergy between the fans and Steph.”

Kevin Durant added 25 points, six rebounds, six assists, and one steal while Draymond Green had 10 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists, one steal and one blocked shot. Klay Thompson had 13 points and Andre Iguodala contributed 10 points.

James Harden led the Rockets with 20 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. Chris Paul had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Clint Capela 13 points and eight rebounds in a little of 21 minutes for Houston.

“We weren’t as aggressive as we need to be,” Harden said. “We started off the game pretty solid, and then we let them gain some confidence to end the first quarter. But just defensively, they didn’t feel us and it showed tonight.”

When the game kept getting away in the second half, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni elected to stay with a smaller lineup stay up with the Warriors. The Rockets biggest nemesis was constantly missing easy layups.

“Those are double whammies,” D’Antoni said of the missed bunnies. “It’s like we missed layups in the first half, especially, and they go down and score. Got to make those layups for shots, and get back on defense.”

The Warriors came in with 15-consecutive playoffs victories at home, tied with the Chicago Bulls. Now the win over the Rockets put them as the record holder. The Bulls run was from Apr. 27, 1990 to May 21, 1991. Thus far, Golden State has a combined record of (25-4) during the 2018 and 2017 NBA playoffs.

Kerr is okay with meager accomplishments, but the team and his team are focused on the grand prize of winning another championship.

“Were in the middle of a hell of a run basically,” Kerr said. “We’ve got great players who are committed. I’m proud of what they have able to accomplish the last few years. Make no mistake about it, Game 4 will be incredibly difficult. We know what’s coming. So we’re not paying attention to any of that stuff.”

PUBLIC INFORMATION

Run TMC appeared at Game 3 of the Golden State Warriors game versus the Houston Rockets. The trio of Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, and Chris Mullins made an honorable return to where it all started when they were Golden State teammates.

Richmond will induct Hardaway into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame on May 21 during a ceremony at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco. Richmond is a member of the 2016 BASHOF class while Mullin made the hall in 2006.

Run TMC spent two seasons together, 1989-1990 and 1990-1991, and as a trio led the NBA in scoring in the first season.

By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist

Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents

Email: infopublicityagents@gmail.com

T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.