Warriors down Nuggets to level playoff series

DENVER, Colorado (AFP) –

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a play against the Denver Nuggets on April 23, 2013. Curry scored 30 points and added 13 assists to power the hot-shooting Warriors over the Nuggets 131-117.

Stephen Curry scored 30 points and added 13 assists to power the hot-shooting Golden State Warriors over the Denver Nuggets 131-117 to even their NBA opening-round playoff series.

Jarrett Jack netted 26 points, Harrison Barnes added 24 points and Klay Thompson contributed 21 points on 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range for the Warriors, now level at 1-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference matchup.

“Just an outstanding performance by that entire group,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said.

The Warriors connected on 51-of-79 shots from the field, 64.6 percent, to set a club single-game playoff record for shooting accuracy, shattering the old mark of 57.9 percent set against Phoenix in 1994.

Ty Lawson (L) of the Denver Nuggets drives with the ball against Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors on April 23, 2013. The Warriors connected on 51-of-79 shots from the field, 64.6 percent, to set a club single-game playoff record for shooting accuracy.

Not since 1991 had an NBA team shot so well in a playoff game.

And Golden State’s sharpshooting performance came in the first game without David Lee, the standout forward who suffered a season-ending torn right hip flexor in game one, where the Nuggets edged the Warriors 97-95 last Saturday.

“We needed this win,” Curry said. “For everybody to get involved, without D-Lee, that’s what we’re going to have to do, have everybody get touches. We’re resilient. We’ve been that way all season.

Golden State will host games three and four on Friday and Sunday at Oakland, California, before the series returns to Denver for game five next Tuesday.

“Now we have to go protect our home court,” Curry said.

Australian big man Andrew Bogut added six points and a game-high eight rebounds plus two steals, an assist and a blocked shot for the Warriors.

Denver was led by 19 points from Ty Lawson and reserve Corey Brewer and 18 from Andre Iguodala and reserve Andre Miller, but the Nuggets saw a 24-game home win streak snapped, losing at home for the first time since January 18.