Timely return for hotshot Curry as the playoffs start with a bang against the Nuggets

Golden State's Stephen Curry made a triumphant return from a left foot sprain on Saturday as the Warriors, led by Jordan Poole's 30 points, routed Denver 123-107 in an NBA playoff opener.

All-Star guard Curry, sidelined since March 16 with the injury, had 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the floor (3-of-6 from 3-point range) with three rebounds, four assists and a steal over 22 minutes off the bench as the host Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series. Poole hit 9-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-7 from 3-point range in his playoff debut.

Other NBA playoff openers Saturday saw the Utah Jazz outlast Dallas 99-93, Philadelphia defeat Toronto 131-111 and Minnesota upset Memphis 130-117.

Curry started 0-for-5, got his first basket on a goaltending call off a drive to the hoop and played 12 minutes in the first half. Having Curry back was a thrill for Thompson, who missed more than two full seasons with injuries before returning to Golden State in January.

The Warriors closed the first half on an 18-4 run for a 58-47 edge and pulled away in the third quarter. Serbian big man Nikola Jokic, last year's NBA Most Valuable Player, led Denver with 25 points.

Utah's Donovan Mitchell scored 30 of his 32 points in the second half and the visiting Jazz beat the Mavericks, who were without injured All-Star guard Luka Doncic due to a left calf strain.

Bojan Bogdanovic added 26 points while Rudy Gobert grabbed 17 rebounds.

Dallas pulled within 92-91 before O'Neale made his only basket, a 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining, and Mitchell added four free throws to secure the victory.

Mitchell began the game 0-for-6 and 1-for-9 from the floor but sparkled in the second half. Jalen Brunson led Dallas with 24 points. Tyrese Maxey scored a playoff career-high 38 points and Tobias Harris added 26 to power the 76ers.

Cameroonian centre Joel Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, added 19 points and 15 rebounds while James Harden contributed 22 points and a game-high 14 assists. Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 24 points.

At Memphis, Minnesota's Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 36 points in his playoff debut and Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points and 13 rebounds in a matchup of the NBA's two top-scoring clubs. Malik Beasley added 23 points off the bench for the T-Wolves. Ja Morant led Memphis with 32 points.

NBA PLAYOFFS

Sunday

20.00: (1.40) Miami (14.0) Atlanta (3.35)

22.30: (1.60) Boston (13.0) Brooklyn (2.60)

Monday

01.30: (1.27) Milwaukee (15.0) Chicago (4.30)

04.00: (1.22) Phoenix (16.0) New Orleans (5.00)

Tuesday

02.30: (1.40) Philadelphia (14.0) Toronto (3.35)

03.30: (2.95) Dallas (13.0) Utah (1.50)

05.00: (1.35) Golden State (14.0) Denver (3.70)

Wednesday

03.30: (1.40) Memphis (14.0) Minnesota (3.35)

***odds are subject to change