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Good morning to everyone but especially to...
STEPHEN CURRY AND THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Maybe we should stop being surprised. Stephen Curry has been doing the seemingly impossible ever since he entered the NBA. But he'd never done this. In fact, no one had.
Curry poured in a Game 7-record 50 points to lead the Warriors past the Kings, 120-100, and into the second round, where the reigning champs will face the Lakers. It was yet another legendary performance from a legendary player, and it elevates Curry in the all-time great discussion, writes our Brad Botkin.
Botkin: "At this point, in these playoffs, anyone can win. If Curry does it, there are going to be some tough conversations to have about where a guy that has never fit the traditional ideals of an all-time player actually ranks as an all-time player. Because it might be getting pretty close to the top."Another thing that could lift Curry's standing? Eliminating LeBron James again. Curry has won three of his four series against James. This meeting has historic importance, writes our Bill Reiter. One last note: shout out to Kevon Looney... 21(!) rebounds and the embodiment of the idea that it doesn't always have to be pretty.
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As for the Kings, making their first playoff appearance since 2006, this series was there for the taking. They just couldn't take it. Sacramento shot a season-worst 37.5% and De'Aaron Fox -- somehow playing through a fractured finger -- had just 16 points on 5-19 shooting (3-10 on 3-pointers). The Kings led, 58-56, at halftime but were outscored 35-23 in the third quarter. In the third frame alone, Golden State had 13 offensive rebounds; Sacramento had nine total rebounds.
After years of wandering the lottery desert, the Kings have a direction. After years of going through coach after coach, they have one in Mike Brown. After years of searching for a centerpiece to take them to the next level, they have one in Fox. "Light the beam" went from silly chant to cherished tradition. This season was wonderful. That doesn't make this loss any less painful -- at least for now.
Honorable mentions
And not such a good morning for...
THE BOSTON BRUINS
It is said that history is written by the victors. Fresh off the most victorious regular season ever, though, the Boston Bruins, are on the wrong end of one of the all-time great upsets, authored by the Florida Panthers.
The No. 8 seed stunned No. 1 Boston, 4-3, in overtime of Game 7 last night to knock out the Presidents' Trophy winners, capping a rally from a 3-1 series deficit. A quick reminder: this Bruins team set the record for most wins and most points ever in a single season.
Carter Verhaeghe was the hero. He rifled the puck past Jeremy Swayman -- starting in place of suddenly struggling Linus Ullmark -- 8:35 into overtime to end the series.The Panthers carried a 2-1 lead into the third period, but quick goals from Tyler Bertuzzi and David Pastrnak put the hosts up 3-2. But the Panthers wouldn't quit.Florida's Brandon Montour scored his second goal of the game with under one minute to go in regulation -- and with six skaters on the ice -- to force overtime before Verhaeghe finished things off.The Presidents' Trophy curse now extends to its 10th straight season, as our Austin Nivison notes.
Of the 37 Presidents' Cup winners, only eight have gone on to lift the Stanley Cup. The last to do it was the 2013 Blackhawks.
