Stephen Curry scores 34 points in 23 minutes as Golden State Warriors dominate Denver Nuggets to take control of series

SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry squared Monte Morris up before crossing him up. After he made it past Morris, Nikola Jokic met Curry in between the basket. But before Jokic or Morris could stop him, Curry split them on a spin more and finished with a layup as he crashed to the ground.

Denver called timeout, and as Curry made his way down the court, you could d his lips saying three very clear words: «I'm f---ing back.»

"(There was a little) pep in my step and the body felt good," Curry said after the Golden State Warriors beat the Nuggets 126-106 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. «You make certain shots, feels a little bit different and more normal and more emotion comes out, especially with that layoff. It was a nice feeling.»

Perhaps the Warriors didn't need Curry to be back in that form. They managed just fine with him having a quieter night in Game 1 — his first game back since March 16. Ahead of Game 2, a source told ESPN that they were hoping Curry would start to find his groove, but wasn't concerned if he didn't. But when he did, it gave a taste of what this Warriors team can look like fully healthy and clicking on all cylinders.

What they showed: They look like a serious contender in the postseason for the first time in years.

With Curry coming off the bench again and still playing under a 22 to 23-minute restriction, he said it was his goal on Monday to simply make his minutes impactful.

Warriors star Stephen Curry scored 34 points in only 22:57 on Monday night against the Nuggets. That's the fewest minutes in a 30-point playoff game in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55).

Curry finished the night with 34 points, four assists, three rebounds, one block and one assist for a +32 net rating.

«Jes