SAN FRANCISCO – Stephen Curry rallied the defending National Basketball Association champions the Golden State Warriors on Saturday to deliver a 125-116 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks which his coach called “championship stuff”.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player scored 22 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, with key three-pointers and a timely block helping Golden State stretch their home winning streak to seven games.

“We feed off our crowd’s energy,” Curry said.

“Whatever it is in terms of our focus and energy and effort, it’s giving us a chance no matter what the score is down the stretch.”

While his scoring burst was impressive, it was his late block on Jrue Holiday that captured the attention.

Shortly after Curry scored a game-levelling three-pointer with 19 seconds left in regulation time, he denied the Bucks’ two-time All-Star guard to send the game into overtime.

“When you (make) a couple of big shots down the stretch and then find yourself in a position to make a play on the other side, I think that gives everybody a good boost,” Curry was quoted by ESPN as saying.

“I think I got more compliments on that in the locker room than any shot I made tonight.”

It definitely got 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green purring.

He said: “He came out of nowhere. Jrue had a straight line drive to the rim... It was great to see him use the rules of verticality and get that block.”

His coach Steve Kerr added: “Steph was incredible, and he did it against one of the great defenders in Jrue Holiday.

“It’s amazing watching those two guys battle. Steph is fearless. It doesn’t matter if there is a slow start or if he hasn’t had much going, he can ignite at any time.”

The Bucks, playing without two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo due to his sore right hand, saw their nine-game road winning streak snapped and their NBA-best record fall to 48-19.

Milwaukee led by five in the final minute, but Curry sank a three-pointer and made a fast break layup to tie the game.

He then answered a Holiday three with one of his own with 18 seconds remaining to put the Warriors level at 111-111.

His late block of Holiday in the paint on a drive to the hoop helped ensure the game went into overtime.

Golden State’s Klay Thompson finished with 22 points, Donte DiVincenzo 20 and JaMychal Green a season-best 18 for the Warriors, who salvaged a split with the Eastern Conference’s top team in their two-game season series.

Seven Bucks, including all five starters, scored in double figures. Holiday had 18 to go with nine rebounds and a team-high eight assists, while Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton had 19 points apiece in a balanced attack.

Bobby Portis had 15 points to complete a double-double with a team-high 13 rebounds.

“It felt like play-off-type energy and atmosphere,” Curry said. “I know they were missing Giannis but we’ve been searching for a long time to try and figure out how to perform and execute down the stretch in a game like this.

“We got down five with under a minute and come back. And I think it has been a long time since we won an overtime game.

“So all those things – dig deep and figure out a way to get it done.”

Curry, who turns 35 on Tuesday, scored nine points in overtime to seal the victory, playing 43 minutes in all to achieve his first victory in four tries since returning March 5 from a left leg injury.

“I’m great. I’m just getting old,” a visibly worn-down Curry said after the finish. “Everybody contributed and that’s the way it has to be for us the way we’re built right now.”

He made eight of 11 shots from the floor in the fourth quarter and overtime, and sank four of seven from behind the arc.

“That’s a great way to get a win,” Curry said.

His coach was more effusive about how the Warriors (35-33) saw out the win, calling it “championship stuff”.

Kerr added: “That is the team that won four titles. They know how to do it. They got it done tonight against probably the best team in the league.” AFP, REUTERS