The Golden State Warriors are onto the second round of the NBA playoffs after eliminating the Denver Nuggets Wednesday night. In the win, Golden State had an unexpected hero that played some big minutes and made some big plays down the stretch. I'll give you a hint. His father is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Yup, you guessed it, Gary Payton II.

Payton II had his best game of the series Wednesday. He was ultra efficient, going 6-for-8 from the field for 15 points. Payton II knocked down three of his four attempts from beyond the arc, and was very active defensively. He blocked a shot and picked up two steals, something his father was known for. After all, he was nicknamed “The Glove” for his ability to stay with his opponents.

The young Warriors guard did not just play a crucial role during the course of the game, he did it down the stretch as well.

With the game tied at 90 and just over two minutes left, Payton II made a nice cut and hit a layup to give Golden State the lead. A minute later, it was still a two point game and the Warriors offensive possession looked dead. The shot clock was winding down, Andrew Wiggins was doubled in the corner, and passed it to Payton II's feet. He barely had time to corral the bad pass before chucking it up from deep, sinking a 27-foot three-pointer. That gave Golden State a five-point that they would not relinquish.

On a night when both Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson were struggling to find their shot, the Warriors got a much needed contribution from Payton II. They might need that going forward as the competition is only going to become more difficult.