Remarkable Stephen Curry surge drives Golden State Warriors to hard-earned win over Portland Trail Blazers

Despite not starting game four, Curry decided it after scoring 17 of his 40 points in overtime to put Golden State in a commanding 3-1 series lead over Portland.

Reading Time:1 minute

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored an incredible 17 points in overtime to swing game four in his team’s favour. Photo: AP

Published: 1:55pm, 10 May 2016Updated: 2:18pm, 10 May 2016

Despite not starting game four, Stephen Curry decided it after scoring an NBA-record 17 of his 40 points in overtime to put the Golden State Warriors in a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers following their 132-125 victory.

Curry returned from a sprained right knee to score 40 points as the Warriors rallied to take a big lead in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Curry looked rusty when he was first introduced but in the end was the difference between the two evenly matched teams. Photo: Corbis

Playing for the first time since he was injured in game four of the first-round series against Houston, Curry was rusty for three quarters and sensational down the stretch after the Warriors trailed by as much as 16 points.

Originally expected to play about 25 minutes off the bench, Curry picked up a heavier workload in the second half after Shaun Livingston, who had been starting in his absence, was ejected in the second quarter after arguing a call and picking up two technical fouls.

His victorious return came hours after it was leaked that Curry would repeat as NBA MVP, with the announcement coming as early as Tuesday.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (centre) has a shot blocked by Warriors forward Draymond Green. Photo: AP

Remarkable Stephen Curry surge drives Golden State Warriors to hard-earned win over Portland Trail Blazers

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Despite not starting game four, Curry decided it after scoring 17 of his 40 points in overtime to put Golden State in a commanding 3-1 series lead over Portland.

Despite not starting game four, Curry decided it after scoring 17 of his 40 points in overtime to put Golden State in a commanding 3-1 series lead over Portland.