Stephen Curry scores 30 in first start of playoffs as Golden State Warriors oust Denver Nuggets in 5 games

Stephen Curry dribbled through nearly the entire Denver Nuggets team before making the perfect teardrop layup to put the Golden State Warriors up with 30 seconds left in the game. 

As he came down, he looked at the audience and put both hands under one side of his head -- signaling to the Nuggets that it was time to go to sleep.

That shot ended up being the dagger that put the Nuggets' season to bed and propelled the Warriors to a 102-98 victory, 

Warriors to a 102-98 victory, punching Golden State's ticket to the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday evening by taking the series 4-1.

The Warriors will face the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Memphis Grizzlies series in the second round, with Game 1 happening as soon as Sunday.

But for the first 30 minutes of Game 5 against the Nuggets, the Warriors looked lifeless. Chase Center was nearly dead. 

The Warriors were down eight points when the fourth started but outscored Denver 32-20 during that final quarter and outshot the Nuggets 63% to 53% from the floor to secure

Warriors React to Massive Contribution from Gary Payton II in Game 5 

Warriors React to Massive Contribution from Gary Payton II in Game 5