San Antonio Spurs vs OKC Thunder - Game 6 - Full Highlights - May 12, 2016 - 2016 NBA Playoffs
Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
With his right elbow wrapped in a brace, Stephen Curry works out with Nick U"Ren (left), special assistant to the head coach, and player development coach Bruce Fraser at the Warriors practice facility in Oakland, Calif. on Friday, May 20, 2016. Golden State faces the Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals Sunday in Oklahoma City. less With his right elbow wrapped in a brace, Stephen Curry works out with Nick U"Ren (left), special assistant to the head coach, and player development coach Bruce Fraser at the Warriors practice facility in ... more Photo: Paul Chinn, The ChronicleCurrys health lifts Warriors as series shifts to OKC
With the swelling already gone from his right elbow, Stephen Curry on Friday was willing to recount his scary dive over the first row seats in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
I saw it once. Not a lot of help. Thats all Ill say, Curry joked about the fans not catching him during Wednesdays first quarter. I wanted to do a crowd-surfing thing, like at a concert, but they werent ready.
Currys apparent health seemed to put the Warriors in a playful mood, despite the daunting task that awaits.
They leave Saturday for Oklahoma City, one of the most hostile environments for opposing teams in the NBA and a place where the Warriors need to win at least one of the next two games - just to regain home-court advantage in the series.
Its just extremely loud. Its definitely one of the loudest venues in the league, and the fans have had a lot to cheer about the past 6-7 years. Its a great venue, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. Its all part of it. When youre able to break through and get a win, its a big confidence booster, and its a lot of fun.
Few opponents have had much fun in Oklahoma City.
Chesapeake Energy Arena has hosted 253 consecutive sellout crowds, and most have left celebrating victories. The Thunder went 32-9 at home this season, including a 23-3 record against Western Conference opponents.
Since 2009-10, Oklahoma City is 212-67 (.760) at home - the second-best record in the NBA during that span.
Game 3 is going to be another dog fight that we have to be ready for from the jump, especially in an environment like they have down in OKC, Curry said. Well be ready. I like where our focus is, and we just have to go out and play hard and play with the same kind of spirit that we did (in Game 2).
The Warriors confidence comes from a 27-point Wednesday that tied the series 1-1 and from a record-setting regular season. They won 34 road games, one more than the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, to give the franchise three consecutive seasons away from home for the first time in history.
One of those road victories came Feb. 27 in Oklahoma City, where the Warriors erased a 14-point deficit to send the game into overtime and Curry made a 37-foot buzzer-beater to win it 121-118.
It was, for sure, the game of the year - in terms of what people will remember from the regular season, Kerr said. It was an incredible shot and a spectacular comeback. Im sure well think about it when were in that arena again, but it doesnt mean anything now.
The Warriors are scheduled to fly to Oklahoma City on Saturday morning and practice there a day ahead of Sundays Game 3. Game 4 will be Tuesday, and Curry isnt expected to be listed on the injury report for either game.
Curry wore a compression sleeve on his bruised right elbow, but he was a full participant in Fridays practice. He said he has full range of motion and described the injury as more uncomfortable than painful.
It doesnt cause any problems mechanically, so I can still use my arm and do what I need to do, he said. It just looks ugly and is a little uncomfortable.
The Warriors will be a little more comfortable if they can win either Game 3 or 4 and regain home-court advantage. As it stands, the Thunder can clinch the series in Game 6 without having to win another road game.
When you go on the road in the playoffs, your motto is always: Go win one game. They did that, Warriors power forward Draymond Green said. Now, its up to us to do our job and go win one game and try to take back home-court advantage. Game 3 will be important. Its not the end-all, be-all, but its a game we want to win.
When you win by the margin we did (in Game 2), it makes it a little bit tougher. Usually, the other team is p****d off, and usually the team that won by that amount relaxes a little bit.
Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: Rusty_SFChron
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Curry-s-health-lifts-Warriors-as-series-shifts-7874396.php
