In the fifth game of the first round of the Western Conference, the Warriors defeated the Nuggets 102-98 at home, eliminated the opponent 4-1 in the series, and successfully advanced, becoming the first team in the West to advance to the semifinals.
It is worth mentioning that since Kerr took charge, the Warriors have experienced a total of 21 playoff series, winning 19 of them and only losing the 2016 and 2019 Finals, which also cost them two championships. After today's game, Cole's playoff coaching career wins also reached 81, surpassing George Carr and Lenny Wilkens to rise to ninth place in history.
The Warriors changed sides today, Curry returned to the starting lineup, starting with Thompson and Poole, plus Wiggins and Green, and the Warriors put up a death five small lineup.
Curry played 37 minutes today and shot 10-of-22, including 5-of-11 three-pointers and 5-of-7 from the free throw line, with 30 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Curry hit five three-pointers today, the 49th time in his playoff career that he's hit at least five three-pointers in a single game, the highest in history, and just equal to the combined time of second-place Thompson (28) and third-ever Ray Allen (21).
In addition, after scoring 30 points today, Curry's total playoff career points reached 3108 points, surpassing Dr. J (3088 points) and rising to 24th in league history. With another nine points, Curry will surpass Dennis Johnson (3,116).
Thompson shot 5-of-13 from the field today and 1-of-6 from three-point range and had 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and four steals. Wiggins shot 4-of-9 from the field, including 1-of-1 three-point shooting, and had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Green shot 4-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-2 three-pointers, and had 11 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks. Payton II, who came off the bench, shot 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, and had 15 points, three rebounds and three assists. Poole shot 3-of-10 and 1-of-4 from three-point range and had eight points and four assists.
On the Nuggets side, Jokic played 32 minutes, shooting 12-of-18, including 0-of-2 three-pointers, 6-of-8 free throws, and 30 points, 19 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 blocks. In this series, Jokic averaged 31.0 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 57.5% from the field, and his personal performance was quite good.
Although the Nuggets were eliminated, it can be said that Jokic stood "dead", not that he was inferior, but that he really had no helpers, Murray and Porter Jr. could not play, and Jokic could not stand alone no matter how good he performed, unable to return to heaven. But under Jokic's leadership, the Nuggets also avoided being swept. If the Nuggets' roster remains intact, the Warriors may not be able to win so easily, and may not even be able to beat the Nuggets.