Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry was named the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP after his Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, 120-110, winning the series in five games. 

Curry, 34, was excellent in the series, averaging 23.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists. Game 5's effort—15 points and nine assists—was his weakest effort of the bunch. 

Not that he didn't have his moments:

It continued another excellent season for Curry that saw him average 25.5 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game in the regular season while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from three. 

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Curry would be the first one to win the NBA's newest award. Add it to an already crowded trophy shelf. 

Curry is a three-time champion, eight-time All-Star, two-time MVP, two-time scoring champion and four-time first-team All-NBA selection. He's a future Hall of Famer and the greatest shooter to ever live, helping to usher in the modern age of floor spacing and three-point shooting. 

The one thing that Curry has never won, however, is Finals MVP in five previous trips. In Golden State's 2014-15 title, Andre Iguodala earned the award, while Kevin Durant won it for both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 championship teams. 

If the Warriors win a title this year, however, Curry will be the prohibitive favorite to claim the award. Of course, either the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat—Boston currently leads the series, 3-2—will have something to say about that. 

But Curry has made it a habit of earning every bit of hardware available. Even the newest trophies.

Andrew Wiggins may have had the dunk of the 2022 NBA playoffs on Sunday.

With just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Golden State Warriors' 109-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks, Wiggins caught the ball on the perimeter, blew by a closing Reggie Bullock and took flight from a few feet inside the free-throw line before annihilating Luka Doncic (and likely the Mavericks' playoff run):

Officials, perhaps experiencing the same level of shock as everyone else in the building, initially called a charge. Warriors coach Steve Kerr successfully challenged, and the bucket stretched Golden State's lead to 10.

Mustering enough momentum to overcome that moment and a double-digit lead was ultimately impossible for the Mavs, who now trail the Warriors 0-3.

This series is effectively over, and Wiggins may have as much to do with that as anyone. But getting to this culminating moment wasn't easy.

Nine years ago, in May 2013, an 18-year-old Wiggins, wearing a baby blue Huntington Prep jersey, appeared on the cover of the iconic SLAM Magazine alongside Jabari Parker.

Below them, in bold, block lettering, the caption read: Young Money: The Game's Next Superstars Have Arrived.

After one of the most hyped-up freshman campaigns of the modern era, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves, selected him with the first overall pick in 2014. And despite winning Rookie of the Year in 2014-15, much of Wiggins' NBA career was characterized by disappointment.

He's tied for 18th in his draft class in career wins over replacement player. He's only had one season (his second) with an above-average true shooting percentage. And prior to this season, he'd only made the playoffs once (just before Jimmy Butler very publicly ditched him and Karl-Anthony Towns for the Philadelphia 76ers).

In Minnesota, Wiggins did plenty of scoring, sure. But his defense, passing and shot selection were underwhelming. After five years and change there, he was traded to the Warriors, who've spent two-plus seasons molding him into a bona fide three-and-D wing who recognizes when moments like Sunday's present themselves.

In the 2022 Western Conference Finals, he's seen and seized plenty.

After Wiggins went for 27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in Game 3, he has officially entered the race for the league's first Western Conference Finals MVP (an award that was just announced earlier this month).

His basic numbers (20.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 threes) against Dallas are eye-opening, but they're not gaudy enough to give him the nod over teammate Stephen Curry (28.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 4.7 threes and a 47.8 three-point percentage).

What really gives Wiggins a case is what's highlighted his evolution throughout his tenure with the Warriors.

He's put defense ahead of highlights and notoriety, and in the process, made and received plenty of both.

Mikal Bridges is the only player who's spent more time matched up with Doncic this postseason, and it took him seven games to do so. And the difference in the Mavericks' offense when Luka is defended by Wiggins is striking.

This postseason, Dallas has scored just 100.4 points per 100 possessions when Wiggins is on Luka. In the regular season, the Mavs put up 114.3 points per 100 possessions in the half court.

Wiggins has spent plenty of possessions hounding Doncic for 94 feet. The length and athleticism that made him such a highly touted prospect a decade ago are helping him stay in front on isolations. And he hasn't allowed himself to be bullied in the post, unlike most of the guards and wings for the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns.

On the other end, Wiggins' improvements in both volume and efficiency from the outside have been game-changing for him and the Warriors.

This season, he attempted a career-high 4.3 catch-and-shoot threes per game and converted 41.0 percent of those attempts. He also posted a career high in three-point-attempt rate (percentage of shots that came from beyond the line). As his frequency on those shots has gone up, his reliance on long twos has also declined.

He's now willing and able to be a dedicated floor-spacer for Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. And since defenders now know they have to respect his range on kick-outs, his drives are as dangerous as they've ever been.

Sunday's monster drive and jam over Luka was a perfect example. Wiggins was 1-of-5 from three to that point of the game, but a season of evidence forced Bullock to close hard. That, in turn, got him burned off the bounce. And it put Luka square in the danger zone.

Despite all the challenges Wiggins faced to get to this point, he's still capable of staggering displays of explosiveness.

That, better decision-making and a commitment to defense has all impacted Golden State's bottom line. This series, the Warriors are plus-28.9 points per 100 possessions when Wiggins is on the floor. That's the highest mark on the team. They're minus-38.7 when he's off, which is the furthest that needle goes for any Warrior in the other direction.

Embracing a less prominent role didn't sap Wiggins of his scoring or ability to leap over 6'7" humans. It just allowed him to allocate more of himself to the less glamorous parts of the game. It made him a better player.

And adding that player to one of the best and most decorated trios in NBA history makes Golden State an increasingly obvious pick to win this whole thing.

As Stephen Curry put the Dallas Mavericks' hopes of a Game 2 victory to bed with a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, he had two words: "Night, night."

The two-time MVP called game with the ball still in the air and then put his hands next to his head to mimic sleeping in a celebration that went viral Friday night. 

“Just having fun,” Curry told reporters about the celebration. “You talk about having kids, you know how bedtime routines are important. It’s the final signal for a job well done that day.”

The kid being rocked to sleep, in this case, is Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who poured in 42 points, eight assists and five rebounds in a losing effort. Dallas held a 72-58 lead going into halftime before falling apart in the second half, with the Mavs being held to 13 points in the third quarter before allowing a 43-point explosion from the Warriors in the fourth.

Golden State now holds a 2-0 lead with the series heading to Dallas.

Who's the best player left in the NBA playoffs?

Analysts and fans all over the internet, TV and anywhere else that takes are dispensed seemed to be asking that question ahead of the conference finals.

With each of the four remaining teams boasting a candidate, the question naturally took over the discussion. In the East, the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum, respectively. In the West, 23-year-old Luka Doncic was the answer for plenty.

After the Golden State Warriors' 112-87 dismantling of the Dallas Mavericks in Wednesday's Game 1, it's time to reintroduce Stephen Curry to the topic.

In just 31 minutes, Curry had 21 points and 12 rebounds. He took over a stint of a vintage third quarter from the Warriors that put the game on ice, but that was after a shaky first half that added fodder to the debate (4-of-10 from the field, 1-of-6 from three and 3-of-6 from the stripe).

Over his 12 seasons prior to 2021-22, Curry put up 8.6 threes per game and hit an absurd 43.3 percent of those attempts. But he finished this campaign at 38 percent from deep, and he converted just 35.9 percent of his triples in the playoffs prior to Game 1. The looks weren't any different, but they just weren't going in at the same rate.

So, even though his team had returned to the conference finals behind his 26.9 points per game against the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies, Curry was suddenly an afterthought in much of the analysis of this matchup with Dallas.

Fox Sports' Shannon Sharpe declared, "Luka Doncic is the best player left in the playoffs...":

ESPN's JJ Redick proclaimed that he'd rather have Luka than Curry for a hypothetical late-game possession:

Those are both opinions. And they're fine. Frankly, it seemed like they were on the majority's side of the debate. But a few minutes of Curry's third quarter should at least plant a little seed of doubt in the minds of those who were so firmly in Luka's camp.

Dallas was within striking distance coming out of the break, but Curry electrified the arena and put the game out of range in a way only he can.

Just over a minute into the third, he stripped Doncic, calmly brought the ball up the floor against three backpedaling Mavericks and suddenly stepped back for a triple in semi-transition.

Less than a minute later, he got caught on the baseline, flung the ball over his shoulder to halfcourt, relocated into an above-the-break three and danced all over a demoralized Dallas squad that found itself in an onslaught.

The takeover didn't last long. And relative to plenty of Curry's big performances in the past, 21 points and 12 boards doesn't sound like much. But like a boxer, Curry's knockout punches can come out of nowhere. When he lands them, the end can come in a hurry, as it did for the Mavs.

Things snowballed from there, and the debate now feels more open.

Luka was a game-worst minus-30 on Wednesday. He had 20 points, but it took him 18 shots to get there. And he almost had twice as many turnovers (seven) as assists (four).

It's way too early to declare that pundits like Sharpe and Redick were wrong, though.

Plenty were lining up to shovel dirt on Doncic after Game 2 against Phoenix, when the Suns relentlessly hunted him. In that game, Second Spectrum tracking had Luka being put in 19 ball screens and the Suns scoring a whopping 1.81 points per possession out of those plays (h/t Tim MacMahon of ESPN). Dallas lost and found itself down 0-2, but the Mavericks won four of the next five while Doncic averaged 29.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.8 steals.

He isn't likely to repeat Wednesday's Game 1 performance against Golden State. Curry took the first round, but either could emerge as the best in the series.

And they'll have plenty of competition from the other side of the bracket waiting on them.

Over his last three postseasons, Jayson Tatum has averaged 27.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.0 threes, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 37.5 percent from three.

No one has ever averaged at least 27.0 points, 7.0 rebounds , 5.9 assists, 3.0 threes, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks over a three-playoff span, and if you remove threes from the equation, LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Tracy McGrady are the only names added to the list.

But in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Tatum was thoroughly outplayed by Miami's candidate. Butler had 41 points, nine boards, five assists, four steals and three blocks. He was 12-of-19 from the field and 17-of-18 from the line.

If Butler wins this series, it's hard to imagine anyone catching him for the playoff lead in value over replacement player.

He, Tatum, Doncic and Curry all have very real "best player left" arguments.

Butler's tenacity on defense, in-between scoring game and playmaking makes Miami tick on both ends.

Tatum's wing defense and playmaking are starting to catch up with the top-end scoring he's brought for years. Doncic's ability to control every aspect of a possession, create for his shooters and bully guards inside has made him one of the most productive playoff performers of all time.

But all three of those stars are chasing something Curry has done three times. If his performance in Game 1 is more of a sign of things to come than a #WaybackWednesday moment, Curry could secure his fourth championship.

And as fun as the "best player left in the playoffs" conversation has been, another Warriors title on the back of vintage Curry play might reopen the "best player in the world" debate.

Statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference and Stathead unless otherwise noted.

The Golden State Warriors are usually heralded for their flashy offensive fireworks that provide a slew of entertaining highlights.

But in Wednesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, it was the Warriors defense that carried the team to a 112-87 blowout victory at Chase Center. Golden State held Dallas to 36.0 percent shooting from the field and 11-of-48 (22.9 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Warriors frontcourt of Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney did an outstanding job of shutting down the Mavericks' dribble penetration. In particular, Wiggins played some strong defense on Dallas star Luka Doncic, who finished with 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting with seven turnovers.

Throughout the night, the Dubs received a ton of praise for their effort to stifle the Mavs offense. Some even compared Wednesday's defensive performance to Golden State's title-winning teams.

While Golden State's defense was stout Wednesday, the team's offense was also efficient with seven players scoring in double figures. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Jordan Poole added 19 points off the bench.

The Warriors had four days of rest since closing out their semifinal series against the Memphis Grizzlies, but any concerns of a flat performance were alleviated in the opening minutes of Wednesday's game. Golden State opened with the energy and effort on defense that it will need to play consistently if it wants to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019.

The Dubs will look to keep the momentum going in Friday's Game 2.

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies were eliminated from the 2022 NBA playoffs by the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, but the All-Star point guard is already looking forward to his next showdown with Stephen Curry.

Morant, who missed the final three games of the second-round series with a knee injury, posted a message on Twitter after the season-ending loss:

The 2022 NBA Most Improved Player was off to a tremendous start in the series before the injury. He averaged 38.3 points, 8.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds, 4.3 threes and 3.0 steals while shooting 50.6 percent from the field.

Memphis still trailed the series 2-1 despite Morant's standout performances. It split the first two games without him in the lineup but couldn't keep pace with the star-studded Warriors on Friday night.

"Ja is one of the best point guards in this league, so you guys know that obviously it would change," Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks told reporters. "But we made do with what we had."

Klay Thompson led the way for Golden State with 30 points in the series clincher. Curry wasn't far behind with 29.

After injuries derailed the Warriors' last two seasons, they've re-emerged as championship contenders and are now just eight wins away from their fourth title since 2015.

All of the Dubs' key contributors remain under contract for next season, so if the Grizzlies want to get through the West and make a push toward the first championship in franchise history, they'll likely have to get by Curry and Co. at some point in the journey.

"They know that we're going to come every single year," Brooks said. "We're young, they're getting old so they know we're coming every single year."

A healthy Morant is a key piece of the puzzle. Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins said Wednesday the dynamic guard shouldn't require surgery during the offseason, which bodes well for his chances of being ready for the start of the 2022-23 campaign.

Based on Morant's comments after Friday's loss, it sounds like the first thing he'll do after next season's schedule comes out is circle the matchups with Curry.

The Golden State Warriors just got whooped. 

The Memphis Grizzlies obliterated the Dubs on Wednesday night 134-95 in Game 5 of their Western Conference Semifinals matchup. The Warriors still hold a 3-2 lead in the series. 

But for at least one evening, they were a punching bag, both on the court and on the socials:

The burns were justified. The Grizzlies were without superstar point guard Ja Morant, who was listed as doubtful for the remainder of the playoffs Tuesday after being diagnosed with a right knee bone bruise.

Everybody was fair game after the loss, including interim coach Mike Brown, who was filling in for Steve Kerr again after the Warriors head coach tested positive for COVID-19. 

How often do you see teams trail by 52 points—yes, 52 points—heading into the fourth quarter in a playoff game, or by as many as 55 points in a contest?

Basically never.

Nothing went well for the Dubs. Steph Curry had just 14 points in 25 minutes, and his night—along with those of the rest of the team's key players—ended midway through the third quarter. Klay Thompson led the way for Golden State with 19 points, but he was also a game-worst minus-45 on the evening in 25 minutes. 

Tyus Jones, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane scored 21 points apiece to lead the Grizzlies. 

Game 6 returns to San Francisco on Friday evening. The Warriors have two days to lick their wounds because Memphis handed them a historic smackdown in Game 5.