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NBA Finals: 4th Quarters The Difference For Stephen Curry, Warriors

By Mark Vandeusen

Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) brings the ball up court against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) brings the ball up court against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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After Sunday night’s 104-91 home victory, the Golden State Warriors lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-2 in the NBA Finals.  It’s Golden State’s fourth quarter play that has allowed them to move within one win of a title.

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Take a look at the spectacular numbers posted by league MVP Stephen Curry in the last quarter of Game 5:

Curry rested at the beginning of the final period on Sunday, checking back into the game with 9:22 remaining and the score tied, 75-75.  From that moment on, Curry outscored the Cavaliers 17-16.

It was the second time in the Finals that Curry put up 17 in the fourth quarter–he accomplished the same feat five days earlier when the Warriors cut a 20-point deficit down to one in Game 3.  Via the Elias Sports Bureau:

"Twice in this series, Curry has matched the highest fourth-quarter output in any Finals game over the last 40 years. The other players with a 17-point fourth quarter during that time all did so in this century: Shaquille O’Neal (2000), Dwyane Wade (2006), and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (both in 2012)."

Curry is averaging 10.4 points in the fourth quarter, the most of any player in the Finals (LeBron James is second at 10.2).

In Game 4, it was the Cavaliers’ inability to score in the fourth that helped the Warriors run away with a 103-82 win.  During that contest the Cavs made just two field goals in the final period, including zero over the last 6:31.  Cleveland shot 2-for-18 (11.1 percent) in the quarter, with James failing to score.

Through five games, the Cavs have yet to win a single fourth quarter:

  • Game 1: 25-25
  • Game 2: 28-25, Warriors
  • Game 3: 36-24, Warriors
  • Game 4: 27-12, Warriors
  • Game 5: 31-24, Warriors

Here are the total fourth-quarter numbers for each team in the series:

Cavaliers: 34-95 FG (35.8%), 11-32 3PT (34.4%), 45 REB, 16 AST, 110 PTS

Warriors: 51-101 FG (50.5%), 21-44 3PT (47.7%), 61 REB, 27 AST, 147 PTS

Golden State is scoring an average of 29.4 points in the fourth quarter, while Cleveland is posting just 22.0.  If this trend doesn’t change in Game 6, the Warriors will likely be crowned champions on Tuesday.

Next: Ranking Each Point Guard MVP In NBA History

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