I don’t know what it is about our Golden State Warriors in the playoffs. They haven’t made it often, but when they have it’s usually involved some heart-pounding wins.
Last season saw electrifying wins over the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs both at home and away.
From Stephen Curry 3rd quarter take-overs to raining shot cloud-bursts via the “Splash Brothers”, the Warriors made their 2012-13 playoff run one of the most memorable in team history.
So, where do last season’s post season triumphs rank among those in team lore?
A look at the top 5 most exhilarating Warriors playoff wins in team history.
#5: MAY 3, 1991, GAME 4 SAN ANTONIO SPURS 97 @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 110
Before the “We Believe” Warriors, the national landscape was introduced to the “Run TMC” Warriors, another squad with upset dreams on their minds as they squared off against the second seeded Spurs.
After a stunning split in San Antonio in games 1 & 2 and a last minute victory in game 3, the Warriors were ready to seal the deal with some home cooking in a crucial game 4.
The home team didn’t disappoint.
With a scintillating 52 combined points by Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond, the Dubs literally ran the exhausted Spurs off the court and back to the Alamo.
Though the Cinderella season would end in the next round against the Lakers, no one would question Don Nelson‘s ability to find unseen advantages in David vs Goliath type matches, anymore.
#4: MAY 3, 2007, GAME 6 DALLAS MAVERICKS 86 @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 111
After a decade plus absence from the playoffs, Baron Davis and the upstart Warriors had the number 1 seeded Dallas Mavericks on the ropes.
With a huge road win in game 1 and home victories in games 3 & 4, the Warriors needed to close out the series at home in game 6 or face the daunting challenge of winning it in Big D in game 7.
When Davis seemed to tweak his leg early in the game and was relegated to the bench, the pressure at Oracle seemed to be as intense as any game in club history.
Fortunately, both Davis and the team rose to the occasion outscoring the Mavs 36-15 in the third quarter en-route to a blowout win and a place in history as the first 8th seed to knock off a top seed in a 7 game format.
#3: MAY 2, 2013, GAME 6 DENVER NUGGETS 88 @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 92
Though many will remember Curry’s 3rd quarter explosion in game 4 most, being able to close out the heavily favored Nuggets in game 6 is what gets this game on the list.
Curry (again) fueled a 3rd quarter scoring barrage that turned a 2 point half time deficit into 11 point lead heading to the 4th, outscoring Denver 33-20.
Uncomfortably, the home fans would have to sweat out a final five minute Warrior collapse which saw Denver get within 2 and a chance to win…before ultimately holding on for the close win.
#2: MAY 14, 1975, GAME 7 – CHICAGO BULLS 79 @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 83
The road to a championship is rarely an easy one.
For the Warriors in 1975, this was never more evident than a game 7 gut-check match in the Western Conference Finals against the pesky Chicago Bulls.
All series, the Bulls had given the Warriors more than they could handle including taking a 3-2 series lead before the Dubs found a way to win in Chicago in game 6.
Game 7 didn’t start out well as the Bulls forged to an 11 point lead half-time lead.
The Dubs, however, weren’t about to let the dream season end at home.
Led by the veteran Rick Barry and rookie Keith Wilkes combined 45 points, the Warriors outscored the Bulls by 16 in the second half to stamp their ticket for the NBA Championship.
#1: MAY 25, 1975, GAME 4 – GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 96 @ WASHINGTON BULLETS 95
Though the Warriors would win their one and only championship to date in a 4-0 sweep, every game would come down to the wire.
The final win needed in front of a hostile Washington DC crowd would prove to be no different.
After trailing by 3 heading to the final quarter, and “thuggery” type tactics by the Bullets to try take Barry out of his usual rhythm, the Warriors would not be refused their first title.
Barry would chip in 20, but it would be the entire team defense and rebounding effort down the stretch that would allow the Warriors to eek out their most exhilarating and important playoff win in club history
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
