Stephen Curry has been less than stellar – at least by his standards – in the NBA Finals heading into Game 5, to the point where people have started to wonder if Andre Iguodala should be the Finals MVP.
Curry put a silence to that talk on Sunday night in the Oracle Arena, putting up 37 points on 13-of-23 shooting from the field, including 7-of-13 from the arc, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. The point guard was absolutely spectacular down the stretch, hitting one impossible 3-pointer after another to give the Golden State Warriors a convincing 104-91 victory and putting them within one game of winning the championship.
LeBron James was also back to his spectacular self after struggling in Game 4 with 40 points on 15-of-34 shooting from the field, 14 rebounds, 11 assists and a steal.
The Cleveland Cavaliers decided to change their game plan and also went small against the Warriors, sitting center Timofey Mozgov for much of the game. The plan worked for the most part, until Curry went off late in the fourth quarter to help put the game away.
Players around the league were glued to their television as usual, reacting to all the big moments from Game 5.
The 2 best players put on a show in tonight. LeBron James w/ 40pts in a triple double & Steph Curry w/ 37pts to give GS a 3-2 series lead!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 15, 2015
Warriors have been the most comfortable basketball team this whole season due to great chemistry. Exactly what Cavs lacked tonight.
— CDR (@RockstarCDR) June 15, 2015
Warriors 1 away..Wow. With a 6″7 center! @SHAQ give it to the be man! Barbque chicken ! Chuck live by the 3… Lol.. http://t.co/44BrsIjqOf
— Kenny Smith (@TheJetOnTNT) June 15, 2015
Iggy being a difference maker! https://t.co/A2gFoVlpyX
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) June 15, 2015
It seems like @KingJames is gonna win MVP regardless win or lose, but that would have to feel yuky if it was while losing #NBAFinals
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) June 15, 2015
#SplashBro‘s love watching these two cats shoot! #TheFinals https://t.co/lmTvrcyBGN
— 3D AKA D.SCOTT (@3Deezy) June 15, 2015
@RealTristan13 is unbelievable on the glass. Seriously
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) June 15, 2015
Iggy irreplaceable this series
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) June 15, 2015
My guys @TheBlurBarbosa and @Hbarnes with big minutes
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) June 15, 2015
What a basketball game. Fascinating series. Lebron carrying a load unfathomable. Steph…ridiculous.
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) June 15, 2015
Hellava game ..Steph back to cooking and handling the ball more. Allows other guys to be comfortable and make plays … Pace favors Gstate
— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) June 15, 2015
THE DIFFERENCE IS SIMPLE: TEAM BALL…
— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) June 15, 2015
After watching the season 5 finale of game of thrones…..I’m done watching that show smh! Lol but on another note… Does the series go 7?
— Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) June 15, 2015
You can’t help but be impressed by all that @KingJames is doing. It will be interesting to see how much fight the Cavs have left. #NBAFinals
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) June 15, 2015
Ok, now I can’t wait for game 6…
— Ryan Anderson (@ryananderson33) June 15, 2015
Man that was a show tonight!!
— Kenneth Faried (@KennethFaried35) June 15, 2015
Crazy that Lebron can have 40 pts, 14 rebs, 11 ast & people will be talking tomorrow abt what else he could of done 2 win. #LBJNeedsSomeHelp
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) June 15, 2015
Sad the way the game is now. Guards can’t make free throws nobody plays defense nobody plays with… https://t.co/6UzLuK0j61
— IG: stak5ots (@DaTrillStak5) June 15, 2015
The MVP came up big tonight. Huge win by @StephenCurry30 and the Warriors. #NBAFinals
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) June 15, 2015
#SmallBall Battle!!
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) June 15, 2015
@StephenCurry30 unstoppable. My son watching this series by my side studying his greatness #ChefCurry
— TJ Ford (@tj_ford) June 15, 2015
Steph for 3333333 off the bounce! “You nasty boy, you nasty ” (B.I.G)
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) June 15, 2015
#NBAFinals2015 Steph the Chef is COOKIN… All Deli items on the menu. @SiriusXMNBA
— Malik Rose (@MalikRose) June 15, 2015
Man you gotta LOVE this game!!!! #NBAFinals
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 15, 2015
Curry buried the Cavs with that 3…
— Tracy Murray (@RealTracyMurray) June 15, 2015
Mark Jackson with the “Nothing Like eating at the Delly” line just killed me. @ESPNNBA Steph putting in work.
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) June 15, 2015
Dance with em!!!!!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 15, 2015
*turns TV off *
— John Henson (@_John_Henson_) June 15, 2015
Man that boy Steph!!
— Bismack Biyombo (@bismackbiyombo0) June 15, 2015
Yes Iggy! Ball out!!
— Josh Childress (@JChillin) June 15, 2015
Small ball 101, this is like a sophisticated Pro Am game lol #NBAFinals
— Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) June 15, 2015
Doesn’t get any better than this.. Splash bros and Bron are giving the world a show for the ages #NBAFinals @NBA
— Quincy Pondexter (@QuincyPondexter) June 15, 2015
Them light skin boys at it again
— Derrick Coleman (@44TheLegend) June 15, 2015
Anything you can do. I can do better moment for these 2 MVPs
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 15, 2015
It’s baffling that the Cavs go such long stretches without playing Mosgov. At all!
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) June 15, 2015
I guess we won’t be hearing anymore about Matthew Dellavadova shutting down Steph Curry after Steph scored 37pts in Game 5.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 15, 2015
The matchup between LeBron James and Steph Curry has been everything that it was advertised to be.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 15, 2015
Jim Park is a blogger and editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.