Arguably the best series in the 2013 NBA playoffs has been the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets. Game one Andre Miller played hero with a game winning layup and in game two Stephen Curry went for 30 points and 13 assists.
Game three started with both teams playing well offensively with Andre Iguodala and Ty Lawson scoring at will. For the Warriors it was Curry and Jarrett Jack. At the end of one the score was tied. It was the second quarter that became a problem as the turnovers started mounting allowing the Nuggets to get into transition.
Carl Landry played well in the quarter though and with Curry in foul trouble the lead by halftime grew to 12. The third quarter was a much different story for Golden State as the turnover stopped, better defense got played, got into the penalty early and able to rest key players.
More importantly is that even after the fourth foul on Curry the Nuggets weren’t able to draw no.5 and in the fourth he rose to the occasion by completing some incredible drives, Draymond Green played solidly hitting a three-pointer and finished a great drive, Harrison Barnes hit a key jumper and came up with a key assist to a cutting Klay Thompson and Jack shredded the defense for another easy layup.
With just under two minutes to play the Nuggets started their run with Lawson drawing Green’s sixth foul and after making the ensuing free throw complete a three-point play. Neither team scored as a result of turnovers until 21.5 seconds left to play with Jack splitting a pair of free throws. Wilson Chandler came up with his biggest play of the entire playoffs by hitting a three in the corner with 16.5 seconds to go.
After a timeout the Warriors were unable to inbound the basketball and turned the ball over. Lawson who had shredded the defense all game long didn’t get by Festus Ezeli as he moved his feet well and forced him to turn the ball over. This time the Warriors got the ball in to Barnes who got pushed by Anthony Randolph with 3.7 seconds left.
He missed the first and made the second and with Denver out of timeouts had one last chance to win or tie the game up. Iguodala nearly hit the shot from half court and Golden State hung on for the two point win.
Lawson led the Nuggets with 35 points and 10 assists, Corey Brewer chipped in 16 points and Kenneth Faried added 15 points and seven rebounds. Leading the Warriors, Curry who went for 29 points, 11 assists and six rebounds, Jack went for 23 points, 7 assists and five rebounds, Barnes went for 19 points and seven rebounds and Landry scored 19 while adding five rebounds.