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AS it caned Memphis 98-78, Golden State today looked like the team which won 67 NBA games this season and swept aside New Orleans in the Western Conference first round.

After slipping behind 10-23 during the first quarter, the Warriors were ignited by MVP Stephen Curry who was the spark in a 16-2 run to the end of the first quarter which saw GSW ahead 26-25 and on their way to a 3-2 series lead.

Curry had 18 points, his six threes and six steals a playoff first.

After a slow start, fellow "Splash Brother" Klay Thompson ignited for a game-high 21 points but Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala - the Warriors had winners everywhere.

Coach Steve Kerr even managed to get significant minutes into former All Star big David Lee.

“This is big,” said Curry, whose Warriors had pulled level in the series with a Game 4 win.

“We wanted to capitalise on the momentum we got in Game 4.”

They certainly did that, weathering the Marc Gasol-Zach Randolph start and seven first quarter turnovers, to steadily pull away.

Game 6 is back in Memphis on Saturday, Aussie time.

In the Eastern Conference, Golden State's fellow top seed Atlanta escaped John Wall's comeback for Washington when Al Horford’s putback with 1.9 seconds left clinched an 82-81 home win.

The Wizards will try to stay alive when they host Game 6 in Washington on Saturday.

“Al Horford made a play at the end of the game,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said.

“It’s a winning play - we talk about those. He went and got it, found a way to put it back in.”

Wall returned from a hand injury with 15 points, seven assists and four steals, his desperation heave from halfcourt at the buzzer never a threat.

SEMI FINALS

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State v Memphis

Golden State 101, Memphis 86
Memphis 97, Golden State 90
Memphis 99, Golden State 89
Golden State 101, Memphis 84
Golden State 98, Memphis 78
Golden State leads 3-2

Houston v L.A. Clippers

L.A. Clippers 117, Houston 104
Houston 115, L.A. Clippers 109
L.A. Clippers 124, Houston 99
L.A. Clippers 128, Houston 95
Houston 124, L.A. Clippers 103
L.A. Clippers leads series 3-2

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta v Washington

Atlanta 106, Washington 90
Washington 104, Atlanta 98
Washington 103, Atlanta 101
Atlanta 106, Washington 101
Atlanta 82, Washington 81
Atlanta leads series 3-2

Cleveland v Chicago

Chicago 99, Cleveland 92
Cleveland 106, Chicago 91
Chicago 99, Cleveland 96
Cleveland 86, Chicago 84
Cleveland 106, Chicago 101
Cleveland leads series 3-2

FIRST ROUND

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Golden State 106, New Orleans 99
Golden State 97, New Orleans 87
Golden State 123, New Orleans 119, OT
Golden State 109, New Orleans 98
Golden State won series 4-0

Houston 118, Dallas 108
Houston 111, Dallas 99
Houston 130, Dallas 128
Dallas 121, Houston 109
Houston 103, Dallas 94
Houston won series 4-1

Memphis 100, Portland 86
Memphis 97, Portland 82
Memphis 115, Portland 109
Portland 99, Memphis 92
Memphis 99, Portland 93
Memphis won series 4-1

L.A. Clippers 107, San Antonio 92
San Antonio 111, L.A. Clippers 107, OT
San Antonio 100, L.A. Clippers 73
L.A. Clippers 114, San Antonio 105
San Antonio 111, L.A. Clippers 107
L.A. Clippers 102, San Antonio 96
L.A. Clippers 111, San Antonio 109
L.A. Clippers won series 4-3

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Washington 93, Toronto 86, OT
Washington 117, Toronto 106
Washington 106, Toronto 99
Washington 125, Toronto 94
Washington won series 4-0

Chicago 103, Milwaukee 91
Chicago 91, Milwaukee 82
Chicago 113, Milwaukee 106, 2OT
Milwaukee 92, Chicago 90
Milwaukee 94, Chicago 88
Chicago 120, Milwaukee 66
Chicago won series 4-2

Cleveland 113, Boston 100
Cleveland 99, Boston 91
Cleveland 103, Boston 95
Cleveland 101, Boston 93
Cleveland won series 4-0

Atlanta 99, Brooklyn 92
Atlanta 96, Brooklyn 91
Brooklyn 91, Atlanta 83
Brooklyn 120, Atlanta 115, OT
Atlanta 107, Brooklyn 97
Atlanta 111, Brooklyn 87
Atlanta won series 4-2