SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Stephen Curry scored 37 points as the Golden State Warriors fought back to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-111 and take a 2-0 lead in their NBA Western Conference finals series on Thursday (May 16).
Curry sparked a 14-3 run for the Warriors as the National Basketball Association champions overturned a 108-100 deficit with just over four minutes remaining in a pulsating battle at the Oracle Arena.
Earlier, the Trail Blazers had surged into a 17-point early in the second half only for the Warriors to hit back with a sustained points onslaught.
The home side erupted for 39 points in the third quarter to haul themselves back into the contest but Portland, led by Damian Lillard, refused to roll over.
A Meyers Leonard three-pointer put Portland eight points clear late in the fourth but Curry then seized control.
Three nerveless free throws from Curry edged Golden State into a 110-108 lead, before a three-pointer for Portland from his younger brother Seth made it 111-110 for the visitors.
Kevon Looney's alley-oop dunk shot put Golden State back in front at 112-111 with 52 seconds remaining before a Draymond Green lay-up with 12 seconds left effectively sealed the win.
"We knew they were going to come out swinging," Curry said.
"They gave us a great punishing. That third quarter was unbelievable. It was a true testament of everyone on the team."
It was another huge performance from Curry, who has stepped into the void created by Kevin Durant's injury absence to deliver back-to-back 30-point games in the opening two games of the series.
Curry ended with 11-of-22 shooting, adding eight rebounds, eight assists and six turnovers.