The Golden State Warriors came into Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal series not only down a game, but also with the news that their all-star power forward David Lee is going to be out for the rest of the postseason after suffering a complete tear of his right hip flexor during the fourth quarter of Game 1.
Knowing that after Lee’s injury their playoff road is all up hill, the Warriors stepped to the challenge and beat the Denver Nuggets by a score of 131-117, leveling the series at one a piece.
Golden State shot 64.6% from the field including 14 of 25 (56 %) from behind the arc, leading the way was Stephen Curry with 30 points and 13 assists and Jarret Jack with 26 points and 7 assists, Harrison Barnes added 24 points and Klay Thompson had 21points.
For Denver, Ty Lawson and Corey Brewer had 19 points each and both Andre Miller and Andre Iguodola added 18 points.
Since the tip of the game, the pace was frenetic compare to what we saw in Game 1 of the series, Denver jumped to a 2 point lead at the end of the first quarter, but Golden State came back with a14-3 run in the middle stages of the second quarter to take a 56 to 43 lead, that they never relinquished going up by eight at the half.
The Warriors started the 3rd quarter with a 12-3 run to extend their lead and by the end of the period it was a 16 point advantage.
In the last quarter of play, Denver cut the lead to eight with just under nine minutes to play, but could not get any closer, and Golden State kept the lead with a great shooting display.
Golden State also out-rebounded the Nuggets 36 to 26.
This was just the second victory for a road team in the playoffs, Chicago being the first one on Monday night in Brooklyn. Denver had the NBA best home record (38-3) during the regular season.
Game 3 is on Friday night from Oakland, California; expect more of the high tempo offensive style of play, and a great atmosphere at the Oracle Arena.