Floyd Says: ‘Basket Felt Like It Was 10 Feet Wide’

Guard Eric (Sleepy) Floyd of the Golden State Warriors finally woke up Sunday.

Floyd, who had been in a shooting slump, scored 51 points, including an NBA playoff-record 29 in the final period, as the Warriors kept their season alive with a 129-121 win over the Lakers.

“I can’t describe the feeling,” Floyd said. “The basket felt like it was 10 feet wide in the fourth quarter. It’s a great feeling, believe me.

“When you’re on a roll, you get greedy,” said Floyd, who hit 12 consecutive shots in the fourth period. “I was going for it. I didn’t want to be denied. I’ve watched Michael Jordan (of the Chicago Bulls) do something like that. I’ve never been hotter.”

Floyd scored 39 points in the second half to break the NBA record for most points in one half. The previous mark of 31 was set by ex-Laker star Elgin Baylor in the 1962 finals against the Boston Celtics.

“Sleepy was phenomenal,” said Warrior center Joe Barry Carroll, who scored 23 points. “When you get hot like Sleepy was, you’ve got to go for it.”

Warrior guard Terry Teagle said: “Sleepy was unreal. He was marvelous. The guy wasn’t going to be denied in the fourth period.

“It wasn’t like he got the points in a selfish way. He created plays, and when the shot was there he took it.

“I don’t see how the guy can stand up after the game because he was running the whole game.”

Floyd’s 29 fourth-quarter points surpassed the NBA playoff record for most points scored in one quarter. Detroit guard Isiah Thomas set the record of 25 Friday night against Atlanta.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Floyd said of the records he set. “But to score 51 points and lose wouldn’t have meant anything.”

Floyd outscored the Lakers by 10 points in the final period and he also had three assists, setting up Greg Ballard, Carroll and Teagle for key baskets late in the game.

Floyd, who has been bothered by a strained left hamstring, could barely walk after the game. He was limping when he walked back onto the court for TV and radio interviews.

He showed little emotion as fans shoved pieces of paper for him to sign.

“Hey, Sleepy, smile,” a fan said.

But Sleepy never smiled.

The only emotion Floyd showed was when he pointed at Laker guard Michael Cooper as he walked off the court to a standing ovation.

Floyd and Cooper have had a fierce rivalry going in the series, with Cooper and the Lakers winning the first three games.

But it was Floyd’s turn to gloat Sunday.

“I just told him good game,” said Floyd, trying to downplay the episode.

After hitting just 3 of 9 shots in the first half, Floyd took over the game in the second half.

He made 3 of 4 shots in the third period. Then after missing his first shot in the final period, he made his last 12.

Floyd looked as if he owned the middle in the fourth period, scoring on eight layups and a dunk.

“Floyd has great acceleration,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said. “He finishes drives better than any guard his size. He has no fear.”

Floyd wound up hitting 18 of 26 shots, including two three-pointers, and 13 of 14 free throws in 44 minutes. He also had 10 assists and 4 steals.

With the Warriors trailing, 102-88, going into the final period, Floyd scored the first seven points on two layups, a free throw and a dunk to start the comeback.

“The fourth period was either do or die, and as a team we didn’t die,” Floyd said. “I decided to start penetrating. They cut down our half-court offense, so we tried our transition game. Our defense spread them out and they were scrambling to get back, and that opened up the fast-break lanes.

“It seemed like the court was wide open for me. The adrenaline was flowing, and we had the crowd going for us. I didn’t think there was any way we were going to lose.

“J.B. (Carroll) just kept telling me to take it to the hoop, and I took it. I just made up my mind that I was going to go for it.”

Said Warrior Coach George Karl: “I’ve never seen a game like Sleepy had. In the fourth quarter it wasn’t coaching. That was the best basketball and show I’ve ever seen in the playoffs.

“When Sleepy is in his rhythm, the players know to get out of his way. I don’t know how much his hamstring was hurting, but we’re in the playoffs now, and he’s going to play.

“What you saw in the fourth quarter was a lot of guts and heart. Our guys knew their backs were against the wall. In the huddle I just said, ‘Get the ball to Sleepy.’ ”

Floyd had averaged 14.7 points and shot 42.7% as the Warriors lost the first three games of the series.

Moreover, Floyd had been passing up shots against the Lakers. For example, he took just one in the first half Thursday night.

“I’ve been playing OK,” Floyd insisted. “I just haven’t been scoring.”

But he put the slump behind him Sunday.

Floyd said he called his mother Sunday morning back home in Gastonia, N.C.

“I wished her a happy Mother’s Day and told her I was going to score 50,” Floyd joked.

He was only one point off.

SLEEPY FLOYD’S AMAZING FOURTH QUARTER

Time Summary GS-LA 11:29 Floyd underhand layin (middle) 90-102 10:55 Floyd spinning layin, plus foul on Thompson 93-102 10:26 Floyd dunk (Ballard assit) 95-102 10:10 Johnson layin (Cooper assist) 95-104 9:51 Teagle hits seven-footer 97-104 9:25 Floyd driving layin 99-104 9:10 Teagle steals from Worthy 9:03 Floyd layin (Teagle assist) 101-104 8:32 Scott fouled by Ballard 101-106 8:24 Floyd driving layin 103-106 8:13 Smith steal from Cooper 8:07 Floyd driving layin 105-106 7:45 Ballard ties up Worthy, wins jump 7:43 Johnson fouls Floyd 107-106 7:18 Floyd hits 10-foot bank shot 109-106 7:08 Johnson fouled by Whitehead 109-108 6:55 Floyd driving layin 111-108 6:46 Worthy blocked by Whitehead 6:00 Whitehead hits 15-foot jumper 113-108 5:43 Johnson seven-foot bank shot 113-110 5:15 Ballard steals from Abdul-Jabbar 5:03 Floyd driving layin 115-110 4:54 Johnson fouled by Smith 115-112 4:35 Floyd hits 15-foot jumper 117-112 4:08 Floyd passes ball out of bounds 3:57 Abdul-Jabbar makes 1 of 2 FT (Whitehead) 117-113 3:42 Ballard hits 15-foot jumper (assist Floyd) 119-113 3:25 Abdul-Jabbar fouled by Smith 119-115 3:02 Scott bank shot 119-117 2:43 Floyd hits 14-foot jumper 121-117 1:58 Floyd fouled by Abdul-Jabbar 123-117 1:42 Abdul-Jabbar hook shot 123-119 1:21 Carroll baseline 15-foot jumper 125-119 1:11 Abdul-Jabbar fouled by Carroll 125-121 :51 Smith makes 1 of 2 FT (Johnson) 126-121 :39 Teagle layin (Floyd assist) 128-121 :13 Teagle makes 1 of 2 FT (Scott) 129-121

Shaded area represents Golden State’s fourth-quarter scores.