NEW ORLEANS—Golden State’s Stephen Curry scored 40 points, including a three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to complete a 20-point, fourth-quarter comeback that allowed the Warriors to beat New Orleans, 123-119, in overtime on Thursday and take a 3-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
The dramatic win by the Warriors was mirrored by Chicago’s double-overtime victory over Milwaukee. The Bulls also established a 3-0 series lead, as did Cleveland against Boston.
Curry hit seven 3s in all, including one to start overtime that gave the Warriors the lead for good.
Klay Thompson had 28 points for the Warriors, who trailed 89-69 after three quarters, then outscored New Orleans 39-19 over the next 12 minutes.
Anthony Davis had 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Pelicans, but his missed free throw with 9.6 seconds left allowed Curry’s late three to tie it.
Curry missed a three-point attempt in the final seconds of regulation, but Marreese Speights corralled the rebound and handed it to Curry in the corner, and the Warriors’ leader wasn’t going to miss twice.
Davis had a chance to tie it in the final seconds of overtime, but Warriors center Andrew Bogut forced him into a difficult driving shot, which missed badly.
The Warriors go for the sweep on Saturday in New Orleans. No National Basketball Association team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.
Chicago is also on course for a sweep after a 113-106 double overtime win against Milwaukee.
Derrick Rose scored 34 points and Jimmy Butler added 24 for the Bulls. Butler’s steal and lay-up started an 8-0 run that gave Chicago a 109-101 lead with 2:44 left in the second overtime.
Rose scored six points in the second overtime, including a lay-up off an offensive rebound with 2:15 left for a 10-point lead.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and Khris Middleton added 18 for Milwaukee, which went scoreless for more than six minutes in the first and second overtimes.
The Bucks will host Game Four on Saturday.
Cleveland did not need overtime to take its 3-0 lead, but the 103-95 win at Boston was hard fought all the same.
LeBron James scored 31 points and Cleveland moved one win away from a sweep in its first playoff series in five years.
The Celtics kept it close, just as they did in the previous two games, and trailed 95-92 after Evan Turner hit a three-pointer with 2:45 left. But Kevin Love hit two three-pointers for a 101-93 lead with 26 seconds to go.
Turner had 19 points and Avery Bradley added 18 for Boston.
Love had 23 points and J.R. Smith added 15 for the Cavaliers.
Cleveland can complete the sweep on Sunday in Boston.
San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard, meanwhile, was selected the NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win the award and the NBA Finals MVP.
“Growing up as a kid, you’re watching these players and you want to become who they are or get the accolades that they have. It just shows that hard work pays off,” Leonard said.
He led the league in steals at 2.3 per game and has become the Spurs’ primary individual defender.
Leonard received 37 first-place votes and 333 points from a US panel of 129 writers and broadcasters. Golden State forward Draymond Green had 45 first-place votes, but appeared on fewer ballots and had 317 points. Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan finished third, receiving 32 first-place votes and 261 points.
AP
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