Curry, Warriors eliminate Nuggets to advance in NBA playoffs

LOS ANGELES – The resurgent Golden State Warriors relied on 30 points from Stephen Curry and a crucial late 15-point cameo from Gary Payton II to seal a pulsating 102-98 victory over reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).

The Warriors will now face either the Memphis Grizzlies or Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Warriors, who had led the series 3-0 before dropping game four in Colorado on Sunday, dug deep in the fourth quarter to clinch victory at the Chase Center.

The Nuggets, buoyed by a towering 30-point display from Jokic, had led by eight points at the end of the third period.

But Golden State outscored the visitors 32-20 in the fourth quarter — with Payton contributing 10 points — to claim a dramatic win.

The victory was Golden State's first playoff series win since 2019 after two consecutive seasons where they missed the postseason. 

"I think you could see those first three quarters we'd forgotten what it felt like to try and close out a game," Curry said. 

"The nerves, the energy, the pressure in the building. It's been a long time since we've felt this. We still know how to do it but we had to grind it out. It's a good feeling to go through and get the win."