Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry scores 50 points to beat Sacramento Kings in Game 7

SACRAMENTO – The Golden State Warriors prepared for the finale of their National Basketball Association (NBA) first-round play-off series with the Sacramento Kings by gathering for a day-off film session on Saturday on an upper floor of Chase Centre, their home arena in San Francisco, with a panoramic view of the bay.

Coach Steve Kerr likes to stage his film sessions there when the space is available. Otherwise, he said, the team are stuck in “the dungeon down below”, outside their locker room.

He was grateful for the therapeutic open space, especially ahead of Sunday’s Game 7.

“I do think there has to be a sense of perspective,” he said. “Even if it’s just a nice view and some sunshine and a chance to breathe and relax between games. That can make a difference.”

Something else can make a difference, too – Stephen Curry.

On Sunday, the star point guard led the Warriors to a series-clinching 120-100 victory by skewering the Kings in every conceivable way on his way to his play-off career best of 50 points – also an NBA record for a Game 7.

He sank parabolic three-pointers. He drove for lay-ups. He toyed with defenders. And he sent scores of Kings fans streaming into the streets of Sacramento before the game had ended.

“Sublime,” Kerr said.

“Total domination,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said.

“A joy to watch,” guard Klay Thompson added.

Curry, Thompson and Green have spent years demolishing opponents as one of the NBA’s most celebrated cores.

The Kings, on the other hand, were making their first post-season appearance since 2006. They had youth and energy. The Warriors have championship DNA.

“It was a great time to put it all together,” Curry said.

“There’s still nerves and anxiousness before a big night. But when we get out there, our experience takes over.”

The 35-year-old shot 20 of 38 from the field and seven of 18 from three-point range. He also had eight rebounds and six assists.

Golden State, the No. 6 seeds in the Western Conference, will face the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the semi-finals, starting in San Francisco on Tuesday.

“To do this for a decade, it’s incredible,” Kerr said of his core players. “The energy that it takes to fight off challengers year after year, and have to prepare and win games, and do it over and over – there’s a reason these guys are champions.”

For much of the past decade, the Warriors and the Kings have produced very different brands of basketball.

As Golden State busied themselves by winning championships (four) and playing in NBA Finals (six), Sacramento spent the past 10 years scuffling through a desert of futility.

Their overhaul began last season when they acquired Domantas Sabonis, an All-Star centre.

It continued in the off-season when they signed reserve guard Malik Monk in free agency, and hired Mike Brown as their coach.

Sure enough, led by De’Aaron Fox, their All-Star point guard, the Kings went 48-34 during the regular season.

As for the Warriors, their roster seemed to constantly be in a state of flux.

Curry injured a shoulder and sprained an ankle. Andrew Wiggins left the team in February citing personal reasons and missed the final 25 games of the regular season.

Kerr, meanwhile, struggled to strike a balance between securing a play-off berth and developing young players like Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman.

Ultimately, he kept leaning on the usual suspects – Curry, Thompson and Green, a defensive stalwart – as the post-season came into sharper focus.

The Warriors found themselves trailing 2-0 in the series, but they fought back with three wins, before the Kings pulled a game back.

On Sunday, Sacramento led 58-56 at half-time, which is when Golden State, and Curry in particular, went about their usual business.

He sank a three-pointer. He sliced through a mix of defenders to scoop in a lay-up. He drained a floater.

“You can tell when he’s locked in or laser focused,” Green said.

As Golden State’s lead swelled in the fourth quarter, the Sacramento crowd’s angst turned to resignation.

The stage belonged to Curry. Another one awaits against the Lakers. NYTIMES