Curry silences his critics as Warriors stroll past Rockets

Oakland. Stephen Curry silenced his critics with a 35-point display as the Golden State Warriors thrashed the Houston Rockets 126-85 to take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Western Conference finals on Sunday.

Curry, targeted relentlessly by Houston as the Rockets levelled the series in game two, overcame a sluggish first-half display to lead a Warriors blowout in game three.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player exploded for 18 points alone in a devastating spurt of scoring in the third quarter that took the game away from Houston.

The reigning champion Warriors now have the opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead with a further victory in front of their home fans in game four on Tuesday as they chase a fourth straight NBA finals appearance.

Curry was relieved to have rediscovered his scoring touch, even if he had been unfazed by the criticism of his game two performance.

“That’s what I expected to do,” Curry said afterwards. “My approach to every game is the same -- you don’t get too high on the highs, or too low on the lows.

“I’m just thankful I managed to hit some shots tonight, eventually. But there’s a long way to go. I’m just going to stay focused on that.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr meanwhile said he had never doubted Curry even after a shaky first half display.

“We’ve seen this so many times with Steph,” Kerr said. “All it takes is one. I was never concerned. This guy’s a two-time MVP and he bounces back from bad games as well as anybody I’ve ever seen. It didn’t surprise me.”

‘They gave us a haymaker’

The win was a record 16th straight playoff victory at home for the Warriors at Oracle Arena. Perhaps more significantly, the 41-point margin of defeat was Houston’s heaviest in a playoff game.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni admitted his team had been battered -- but insisted they could recover. (AFP)