Andrew Wiggins had just nailed back-to-back 3-pointers from either corner and, after a Toronto turnover, Stephen Curry was probing the defense for another chunk. He pushed the tempo, drove into the paint and kicked it out. He got it back and drove again. His no-look bounce pass set Eric Paschall up for a dunk but he was fouled on the way. With 9:39 left in the fourth quarter, the Warriors were in position to take the lead. Suddenly, Chase Center was filled with a vibe it hadn’t yet housed: hope.



It all centered on No. 30. He walked out toward half court as Paschall got set for his free throws. Curry repeatedly waved his right arm upward, instructing the sellout crowd to get hyped, giving fans permission to embrace that novel feeling percolating. Hope. Suddenly, at his urging, the entire arena rose to its feet and cheered. It was a rousing standing ovation, randomly executed during the dead space before a free throw, orchestrated by the Warriors’...