NBA Playoffs Continue

Stephen Curry is back, and that’s good for the Golden State Warriors and NBA fans, bad for anyone in his way. Dwyane Wade refuses to go away, and that’s about all that is carrying the Miami Heat.

Curry, 28, returned from his sprained knee to score 17 points in overtime and lift the Warriors to a 132-125 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers and a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series on Monday night. Wade, 34, scored the tying layup in regulation and led the Heat with 30 points in their series-evening 94-87 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Oddly, having got the Heat to OT, Wade didn’t have a big role in those final five minutes as the Heat allowed only four points. Wade scored the final basket in OT, but that was all.

“I was tired,” he said. “I was using myself as a decoy. All eyes were on me and I wasn’t going to force anything.”

He earned that fatigue. When the Heat were behind by nine in the fourth quarter, he scored five straight points to spark their comeback. Imagine winning a game in OT after leading for only 13 seconds of the fourth quarter.

He has had little help on the offensive side in this series. He scored 38 points in Miami’s loss in Game 3, so over the last two games he is averaging his age in points.

Curry, as always, spices up life. He scored 40 points in the Warriors’ road win. He got into the game after nearly six minutes had expired and the Warriors trailed 16-2. He might have played less than he did but Shaun Livingston’s ejection forced more minutes on him and he responded.

“To help our team get a win tonight and in that fashion, that was a good feeling in that moment to be back on the floor and playing,” Curry said.

Good to have him back. Good to have Wade around as well.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman