Steph Curry has been on quite the roll.
The Warriors star followed up his dominant second-round series-ending performance with a 36-point effort in Tuesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Curry led Golden State in scoring in its 116-94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, and has scored 30-plus points in consecutive contests for the first time this postseason.
The two-time MVP also matched a playoff career high, draining nine 3-pointers for the second time in his playoff career.
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SIGN UP HERE After scoring 17 points in a Game 3 loss to the Houston Rockets back in the second round, Curry has picked up his play in the meantime. Over the last four games including Tuesday, Curry is averaging 31 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 39.2 percent from 3-point range.
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In the last two games, the Warriors have been without reigning NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant because he strained his right calf in Golden State's Game 5 win over Houston on May 8. But as NBC Sports' Tom Haberstroh noted, Curry has picked up his pace when Durant's not on the floor.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Durant is not yet close to returning, so Golden State will have to rely on Curry in order to secure a fifth consecutive NBA Finals berth. Tuesday's performance was just the latest indication he is capable of handling that responsibility.
