Mendoza: All eyes on Curry in Game 5

Steph Curry scored 31 points in last week’s Game 3 of the ongoing best-of-seven NBA championship.He could have scored more if he had not hurt his foot when he got buried under a pile of players scrambling for a loose ball late in the fourth quarter.He could have also led the Golden State Warriors to victory.But it was not to be, the Boston Celtics gaining much from Curry’s untimely departure to produce a 116-100 win for a 2-1 lead in their home court TD Garden.The injury on Curry naturally terrified the Warriors, who are seeking their fourth title in seven Finals in nine seasons.But Curry calmed them down with the quickness of a drillmaster suddenly thrown in a quandary.“I’m going to play [in Game 4],” Curry said. “That’s all I know right now.”Curry’s cure to his foot? “About ten and a half hours of sleep, and a couple of dunks in the ice bucket.”He was in high spirits the next morning.“As soon as you start to take a couple of steps, you kind of know whether you can run normal, cut normal or not,” he said. “Yesterday, I could. That gave me a little bit of confidence knowing it wasn’t as bad. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow. I know I’m going to play.”He did play. He did shine. He did whip the foe.Scoring 43 points and snaring 10 boards in leading the Warriors to a 107-97 Game 4 win that tied the series 2-2, Curry left his teammates in awe and the Celtics stunned.Curry shot 14 of 26 from the field with seven threes, transforming Game 4 into his own personal canvas as would a Van Gogh.“It was nearly a must-win game, so to go out there and shoot as efficiently and rebound as well while they are attacking him on defense?” said Klay Thompson, the other half of “Splash Brothers” with Curry. “His conditioning is second to none in this league.”“Steph put us on his back and willed us to win,” said Draymond Green, the aggressive Warrior. “He came out and showed why he’s one of the best players to ever play this game.”But even as Thompson called Curry’s performance as “probably No. 1,” Curry said: “I don’t rank my performances. Just win the game.”Can Curry, 34, a two-time NBA MVP, carry his team again in today’s (Tuesday) Game 5?It will be a shame if he won’t. He plays on home court.