Live updates: Stephen Curry’s 36 points lead Warriors over Kings in Game 3 of NBA playoffs

Final: Warriors 114, Kings 97

Stephen Curry scored 36 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 114-97 victory over the Kings in Game 3 of a contentious first-round playoff series between newly minted Northern California rivals.

The Warriors needed a win in the worst way after dropping the first two games of the series in Sacramento. They got one in front of a raucous crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center.

The Kings still hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 4 set for Sunday, but they will have to play much better to prevent the Warriors from evening the series.

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Third quarter: Warriors 84, Kings 72

The Golden State Warriors carried a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Kings on Thursday night at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Golden State went up by 14 early in the third quarter before Sacramento battled back to cut the deficit to six following back-to-back buckets from Harrison Barnes and a free throw by Keegan Murray. The Warriors responded with a 10-4 run to take a 71-58 lead on a 3-pointer by Jordan Poole. They went up 79-63 on a 3-pointer by Curry and extended the lead to 18 on a three-point play by Curry moments later.

Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox made a 3-pointer and then converted a three-point play of his own to get the Kings within 12.

Halftime: Warriors 53, Kings 41

Stephen Curry made a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining to give the Golden State Warriors a 53-41 halftime lead over the Kings in Game 3 of the first-round playoff series at Chase Center.

Curry scored 18 points in the opening half while Andrew Wiggins added 11 for the Warriors. De’Aaron Fox was the only player in double figures for the Kings with 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

Sacramento had a chance to close the gap against Golden State when the Warriors went scoreless for a span of 3:45, but Kings managed to get only one basket during that stretch on a breakaway dunk by Kevin Huerter.

Curry ended the scoring drought with a floater with 4:33 to play in the half, giving Golden State a 41-33 lead. Sabonis answered with a jump hook to cut the deficit to six, but the Kings found themselves down by double digits after Huerter fouled Curry on a 3-point attempt.

The Warriors went up 50-39 on a basket by Poole and carried a 12-point lead into the break when an offensive rebound gave Curry a second look from 3-point range in the final seconds.

First quarter: Warriors 29, Kings 20

The Kings find themselves in a very hostile environment in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors after winning the first two games in Sacramento.

Warriors fans didn’t take kindly to the fact that Bay Area rapper E-40 was thrown out of Game 1 and Draymond Green was ejected from Game 2 after stomping on Kings center Domantas Sabonis. The Chase Center crowd cheered the Warriors loudly during pregame introductions and booed Sabonis even louder every time he touched the ball.

The Kings looked rattled early while committing four turnovers and five fouls over the first six minutes of the game. The Warriors went up 23-14 on a 3-pointer by Klay Thompson. The Kings cut the deficit to three on a 3-pointer by Terence Davis, but the Warriors closed the quarter with a 6-0 run to reestablish a nine-point lead.

Status updates

Kings center Domantas Sabonis has been cleared to play in Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Sabonis was listed as questionable due to a bruised sternum. When asked if he planned to play following pregame warmups, Sabonis said: “Of course.”

The Warriors announced that Andrew Wiggins (shoulder) and Jordan Poole (ankle) will play, but Gary Payton II has been ruled out due to illness. Poole will start in place of Draymond Green, who is serving a one-game suspension after stomping on Sabonis in a Game 2 loss to the Kings on Monday in Sacramento.

Fans fill G1C for watch party

The Kings made about 17,000 tickets available for the free Game 3 watch party. Those tickets were claimed quickly.

Key players questionable

Key players are questionable because of injuries and Draymond Green will be out due to suspension when the Kings visit the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Thursday at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The Kings hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after winning the first two games in Sacramento. All-Star center Domantas Sabonis is questionable after suffering a bruised sternum when Green stomped on his chest in the fourth quarter of Game 2, but Kings coach Mike Brown said Wednesday he believes Sabonis will play.

The Warriors are listing All-Star forward Andrew Wiggins as questionable due to right shoulder soreness. Jordan Poole is questionable with a left ankle sprain and Gary Payton II is questionable due to illness.

Wiggins returned for the first two games of the playoffs after missing the last 25 games of the regular season due to personal reasons. He scored 17 points in Game 1 and 22 points in Game 2.

Poole has been playing through discomfort since twisting his ankle in a 126-123 loss to the Kings in Game 1. Poole scored 17 points in the first game, but he was held to four points on 1-of-7 shooting in the second game.

Payton, one of Golden State’s key defensive players along with Green and Wiggins, had a total of 21 points, 10 rebounds and four steals over 47 minutes in the first two games.

Game 3 could be pivotal in this series. If the Warriors win, they will have a chance to even the series in Game 4 on Sunday at Chase Center. If the Kings win, they will take a 3-0 series lead. Teams that win the first three games in a best-of-seven series are 108-0 all-time in the NBA playoffs.

Kings at Warriors

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Chase Center

TV: TNT

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Warriors -6.0

Over/under: 239

Injury report

Warriors: QUESTIONABLE — Gary Payton II (ankle); Jordan Poole (ankle); Andrew Wiggins (shoulder). OUT — Draymond Green (suspension); Andre Iguodala (wrist); Ryan Rollins (foot).

Kings: OUT — Matthew Dellavedova (finger). QUESTIONABLE — Domantas Sabonis (sternum).

Schedule

Game 1: Kings 126, Warriors 123

Game 2: Kings 114, Warriors 106

April 20 at Golden State Warriors

April 23 at Golden State Warriors

* April 26 vs. Golden State Warriors

* April 28 at Golden State Warriors

* April 30 vs. Golden State Warriors

* If necessary