Stephen Curry appreciates the compliments from Dwyane Wade and LeBron James on social media, while ignoring the criticism from the outside. (1:04) There might not be enough superlatives to describe Stephen Curry's performance in the second half of the Golden State Warriors' 118-113 victory Friday over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. After going scoreless in the first half, Curry poured in 33 points in the game's final 24 minutes -- 23 of which came in the fourth quarter, as the Warriors ended the Rockets' season for the fourth time in five years. Curry's outstanding performance earned praise from NBA players watching at home, starting with one of his biggest postseason rivals, who -- intentionally or not -- invoked the words of a Rockets legend to describe Curry's effort. NEVER underestimate the heart of a Champion‼️‼️ — LeBron James (@KingJames) May 11, 2019 Y'all better stop disrespecting @StephenCurry30 just because he's a team first guy and is willing to sacrifice in moments doesn't mean he's not still a beast. — DWade (@DwyaneWade) May 11, 2019 Steph Curry is not only one of the greatest shooters we've ever seen, he is one of the greatest clutch players the game has ever seen. 33 points in the second half to lead his Warriors over the Houston Rockets...Incredible! — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 11, 2019 Steph had 33 in the second half 😂😂 that's silly lol — Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) May 11, 2019 Apology accepted. Y'all gon put some respect on that man name https://t.co/Zv902PMkym — Baze (@24Bazemore) May 11, 2019 Steph had 33 in the second half 😅 — Jaron Blossomgame (@JaronBgame) May 11, 2019 True but I didn't think he would get it! MVP behavior tonight! https://t.co/51Ln8uRrTG — Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 11, 2019 That boy Steph was pure GREATNESS in the second half! Salute bro 🤘🏾 — Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) May 11, 2019 Watching from home, Kevin Durant -- who missed Game 6 with a strained calf -- liked what he saw from his Warriors teammates. Meanwhile, David West, who won titles with Curry and the Warriors in 2017 and 2018, shared this message, which might've been a shot at both Curry's critics -- who were particularly vocal after Game 5 -- and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.<doc-sep>Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press After exploding for 33 points in the second half of the Golden State Warriors' 118-113 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of their second-round playoff series Friday, Warriors guard Stephen Curry put his performance in perspective. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Curry said, "That was the best 18 minutes of my career." Curry went scoreless in the first half, but he turned it on over the final 24 minutes and finished with 33 points for a team that was without both Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins because of injury. Video Play Button McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer" Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes Right Arrow Icon With the win, Golden State eliminated Houston and advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive year. Curry was 0-of-5 from the field in the first half, and Friday marked the first time in his playoff career he failed to record a single point in an opening half. Even so, Curry felt good about the Warriors' chances at halftime since the score was tied despite his poor play: "Klay [Thompson] kept us afloat in the first half with the way he played with his 21 and just hitting some big shots to kill their momentum. I was in foul trouble, obviously, and couldn't really get a feel or become assertive. Just worrying about that and at halftime we're tied, and I had zero points. You've got to like that situation." Curry finished 9-of-20 from the field, 4-of-11 from beyond the arc and 11-of-11 from the free-throw line to go with a plus-eight plus/minus, which was the second-best mark on the team behind Shaun Livingston's plus-14. Video Play Button McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer" Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes Right Arrow Icon Curry suffered a dislocated left middle finger in Game 2 of the series, and there was some thought it was negatively impacting his shooting. He scored 20 or fewer points in each of the first three games but netted 25 or more in each of the final three games. Game 6 was his best performance with 33 points in just 34 minutes, plus he shot 36.4 percent from three after shooting 30.0 percent or less in the first five games. Curry is entering the conference finals on a high note, and he will have some time to rest his finger since Game 7 between the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets isn't until Sunday. Durant (strained right calf) and Cousins (torn left quad) could also benefit from the extra time to heal and might be ready for Game 1 of the conference finals. While Curry was the unquestioned go-to guy for Golden State during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 playoffs, Durant took that title in 2016-17 and 2017-18, winning two NBA Finals MVP Awards. KD may reclaim that position if he returns, but Curry's 33-point outburst in the second half of Friday's game showed he is still more than capable of leading the way.<doc-sep>For the second postseason in a row, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets in a critical Game 6. Unlike last year, the Warriors’ Game 6 victory ended the series by a 4-2 margin, besting the Rockets on their home court. The Rockets seem to have a knack for suffering stunning collapses against the Warriors in the playoffs, potentially because Golden State has a roster stacked with future Hall-of-Famers and when one of them gets injured, it truly is “strength in numbers” – the team’s longtime designated slogan under Steve Kerr. One such player that exemplifies that mantra is Stephen Curry. Curry is the greatest shooter of all time, and he is also the only player to ever win a unanimous MVP award. However, for much of his team’s series against the Rockets, Steph struggled. His trademark long-range bombs from outside evaporated, and his panache for finishing at the rim regressed back to the days when fans and front offices questioned his ability to stay on the court due to a rash of ankle injuries. In Game 6, though, Curry came to play. According to a stat from SportsCenter, Curry actually scored as many points as the entire Rockets teams over the final four minutes of Game 6. When it mattered, Steph was clutch 😤 pic.twitter.com/R5HP7ynRQT — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 11, 2019 The Warriors, remember, were without bona fide bucket-getter Kevin Durant, who suffered a calf injury in Game 5, which forced him to miss the next contest. In both games, the Rockets were unable to cash in on Durant’s injury and, as such, they are heading home early once again – and Curry is the biggest reason why.<doc-sep>Despite all odds being stacked against them, the Golden State Warriors eliminated the Houston Rockets in Game 6 with a 118-113 victory. With the Warriors missing Kevin Durant due to a calf strain and Golden State playing on the road at the Toyota Center, the defending champions relied on a huge first-half performance from Klay Thompson (21 points in the first half), a clutch fourth quarter from Stephen Curry and a surprising performance from the team's bench to eliminate their Western Conference rivals. Curry led the way with 33 points while Thompson finished the night with 27 points. Golden State will now face the winner of Game 7 between the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. Here are some major takeaways from Golden State's victory: The old Warriors This is no disrespect to Kevin Durant, who is, at this point, pretty indisputably the best player in the NBA. But my goodness are the old Warriors something to behold. They are not perfect. They turn the ball over. They make stupid plays and get in foul trouble. But have you ever seen a team that fights like this? A few days after Kyrie Irving and the Celtics showed us what it looks like to wither up and die when the going gets tough, the Warriors reminded everyone what the heart of a champion actually looks like. Given the circumstances -- the Durant absence, Curry being held scoreless in the first half, the foul trouble, on the road -- this might very well be the most impressive victory throughout this entire five-year run. Just absolutely incredible. "Not going to swear tonight. They're giants. They're champions. These guys are a historically good basketball team," head coach Steve Kerr said of his Warriors after the Game 6 win. "You do not do what these guys have done without an incredible combination of talent and character." Stephen Curry is a god Curry has never struggled with his shot like this. For five games against Houston he was shooting 26 percent from 3. He went 0-for-5 in the first half and was held scoreless. He looked awful. That is not an overstatement. Full-blown awful. So what does he do? He comes out and scores 33 second-half points, including some monster shots in crunch time. Forget the otherworldly shooting ability -- this is what pure, unabashed confidence looks like. There might not be another player in the world who can go from shooting, and playing, that poorly to flat out dominating in the blink of an eye like he never missed a beat. Just remarkable, the willingness and self-belief to keep playing through those struggles at full speed, no hesitation, against relentless double-teams and traps, with the stakes that high and a world of criticism awaiting him if he didn't turn it around. Never doubt Steph Curry. Ever. Unless you want to look like a fool. "That game personified Steph Curry," Kerr said after the game. "He's just fearless. That's what makes him who he is." Can't say it better than that. Game 6 Klay Thompson Klay has a history of going off in Game 6s, and he did it again when the Warriors needed it most, finishing with with 27 points, but it was the 21 first-half points that were beyond huge. If Klay doesn't carry the Warriors in the first half while Curry was on the bench with three fouls and zero points, there are no heroics to be had at the end. It would've been over long before that. Never mind Klay's defense all night. He had some of the most impressive defensive possessions you will ever see in this game. This dude is such a battler it's hard to find the words for it. Unfazed by anything. Kudos to Chris Paul and James Harden Especially Paul, who finally had a vintage Chris Paul game with 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He hit 3s. He got into the lane. He gave Harden, who finished with 35 points, the support he needed, and it just wasn't enough. This is as brutal a loss as Paul has ever suffered, and he's suffered some brutal ones. The Rockets did not lose this game, however. The Warriors won it. That's a big distinction that needs to be made. Recap of live updates CBS Sports was with you throughout Warriors vs. Rockets Game 6. Scroll through our LIVE blog if you missed anything. If you're having trouble viewing the live application below, please click here. TV listings All games will air on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV during the postseason. Games on TNT and NBA TV can be streamed via fuboTV (try it for free). Odds and Analysis Check Sportsline's NBA pick sheet for all your daily odds.<doc-sep>
Warriors star Stephen Curry knew there had been plenty of conversations about his lackluster showing in Golden State's second-round series against the Rockets. Heading into a pivotal Game 6 on Friday night without Kevin Durant, the lights were shining even brighter than usual on Curry's No. 30 jersey. Despite shooting only 39.4 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from 3-point range against Houston prior to Game 6, Curry's confidence never wavered. He certainly took his time, but Curry delivered the knockout blow when the Warriors needed their two-time MVP to show up. MORE: Chris Paul kicked Curry off practice court before Game 6 "I've heard a lot of noise this series, for sure," Curry said after the Warriors won in Houston, eliminating the Rockets and advancing to the Western Conference finals. "I'll just leave it at that. Whether it's positive, negative, whatever the case is, I know what I'm capable of. "It's bigger than me, so I just, I don't get caught up in that. I don't need any extra motivation." Curry's line in the box score doesn't jump out with 50-plus points or a triple-double, but his playoff performance against the Rockets was one of the finest of his career. Here are four stats to explain why... Zero Yeah... this didn't start well. Curry was held scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2012, shooting 0-of-5 from the field in just 12 minutes. He got intro foul trouble early, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr had to throw in little-used point guard Quinn Cook, much to Curry's chagrin. Steph speaks on Steve Kerr's decision to take him out of the game after getting two fouls and how Kerr always "keeps it real." #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Av0Ror7LZ1 — NBA TV (@NBATV) May 11, 2019 Give credit to fellow "Splash Brother" Klay Thompson, who kept Golden State alive with 11 points after Curry's third foul and 21 points overall in the first half. That set the stage for Curry to find his form late in the game. 33 What a difference a short trip to the locker room can make. Curry came out blazing in the final two quarters, scoring 33 points in a variety of ways. Game 6 stats First half Second half Points 0 33 Field goals 0-5 9-15 3-point field goals 0-2 4-9 Free throws 0-0 11-11 Curry scored more than 50 percent of the Warriors' second-half total (61) and launched nine more shots than any other Golden State player (Andre Iguodala, 3-of-6). 23 The fourth quarter turned into Curry's personal playground with the six-time All-Star dropping 23 points on the Rockets in the final frame. Curry went 6-of-8 from the field, 3-of-5 from the 3-point line and a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line. He accounted for more than 60 percent of the Warriors' points in the period (36) and nearly outscored the Rockets by himself (26). Over the last 20 postseasons, Curry's 23-point fourth quarter is second only to Allen Iverson, who scored 26 points in the fourth back in 2001 against the Bucks. Stephen Curry scored all 33 of his points in the second half, including 23 in the fourth quarter, both playoff career highs. — Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) May 11, 2019 16 This might be the most impressive number from Curry's big night. Over the course of the final five minutes of Game 6, Curry scored 16 points — and so did the Rockets as a team. Final five minutes Curry Rockets Points 16 16 Field goals 3-4 6-13 3-point field goals 2-3 4-8 Free throws 8-8 0-0 Any noise left? Any chatter about Curry not coming through in the clutch? Didn't think so.