Steph feels ‘blessed’ to be back in playoff environment originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Steph Curry has had a long two years since he was last lighting up the NBA playoffs.
From breaking his hand and missing most of the 2019-20 season to carrying the Warriors to the play-in tournament last year, only to lose twice and miss the playoffs, Curry is finally both fully healthy and leading the way for a contending team in 2022.
After coming off the bench Monday to score 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting in Game 2 as the Warriors routed the Denver Nuggets 126-106 to take a 2-0 lead in best-of-seven series, Curry reflected on Warriors Postgame Live about the journey to get to this point and how special it is to be back in a playoff atmosphere.
“To be in this environment after [this] two-year absence from the playoffs, it means a lot,” Curry said. “It’s what we all work for. I keep telling myself and my teammates on the bench, ‘There’s no better feeling than this.’ It’s obviously special when we’re winning, but just that fight, that competitiveness, the atmosphere here, it means a lot.”
It’s also been a tough road back this season for Curry just to play in the first round. Curry missed the last month of the season after suffering a foot injury against the Boston Celtics on Mar. 16.
“I’m blessed to be able to get back at this time,” Curry said. “It was a long four-and-a-half weeks and obviously Game 1 was the goal. A lot of hard work went into it.”
Related: Steph Curry becomes first Warriors player to reach 3,000 playoff points
Curry has been coming off the bench the first two games of the playoffs as the Warriors are choosing to be cautious with his return from injury.
But if Game 2 was any indication, Curry is just as lethal coming off the bench – and he’s enjoying the return to basketball’s biggest stage.