After the final buzzer, coach Steve Kerr didn’t mince words. “For one night, we’re us. We’re champions again. I know that may sound crazy to everybody out there. It’s a Play-In game. I don’t care,” he said, signaling a jolt of confidence in a group that had been written off at times this season.
Stephen Curry carried the scoring load, finishing with 35 points and seven three-pointers, including the go-ahead stepback with 50 seconds remaining. The two-time MVP returned from a 27-game absence to anchor the comeback, underscoring what his presence means for Golden State in a moment of urgency.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points for Golden State, while Al Horford provided four timely fourth-quarter three-pointers to spark the rally. Horford said Curry’s impact is otherworldly, and Porzingis called it “unreal” to share the floor with a player of Curry’s caliber, noting there’s little you can do when he gets going.
Defensively, Draymond Green was pivotal, locking down Kawhi Leonard to two points in the fourth, compiling four steals and delivering two late turnovers that helped seal the win. Leonard lauded Green as a “Hall of Fame defender,” while Green deflected the praise, saying there’s no doubt about the respect he earns from his peers.
The victory advances Golden State toward a first-round clash with the Phoenix Suns, with the team chasing momentum and the chance to extend its season. On this night, Curry, Green, and Kerr delivered the kind of performance that reminded the franchise of its championship identity, even if only for a single night.
