The idea that Stephen Curry requires a Finals MVP to justify his all-time resume is ridiculous, but if you believe he does, he got off to a strong start on Thursday night. The Warriors’ star scored 21 points in the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, which Golden State eventually lost.
Curry scored 21 points in the NBA Finals, the most in a single quarter since 1993 (Michael Jordan had 22 against the Suns), and he had the highest-scoring first quarter in a Finals game in the prior 50 years.
Curry was 6 for 8 from 3 range in the first quarter, with one of his misses coming on a half-court heave at the conclusion of the first. The six 3-pointers made in a single quarter set a Finals record.
Curry has now shot at least five 3-pointers in each of the last three Finals quarters. All other players in NBA history have combined for two such quarters, according to report (Kenny Smith and Ray Allen each did it once).
The Celtics didn’t help themselves by losing sight of Curry a number of occasions early in the game, allowing him to get wide-open looks. He scarcely hit the rim the rest of the quarter once he got into a groove.
Curry finished with 34 points, but he only hit one more 3-pointer. Meanwhile, Boston came back from a deficit in the fourth quarter to win Game 1 on the road.
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