NBA Playoffs Final Results: Harrison Barnes Stars as Golden State Warriors Tangle with Denver Nuggets

Commentators Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith couldn't stop raving about the performance by Harrison Barnes, an NBA rookie and Ames native, on Tuesday evening.

Barnes and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Denver Nuggets, 131-117, in a first round road game in the NBA Playoffs. Golden State and Denver are knotted up 1-1 in the series as it shifts to Golden State.

Barnes, a lanky forward, swished in 24 points with a comination of silky smooth jump shots and crowd-pleasing dunks. Well, they were pleasing to watch, although the fans in Denver didn't care much for them at the time.

His coach Mark Jackson joined in the glowing praise.

"Harrison Barnes is, for a rookie, someone who hasn't gotten the respect he deserves," Jackson said after the game.

Jackson said the rookie hasn't wowed with numbers, but has played great defense, done everything that's been asked and been a start for most of the year on a playoff team.

The former Ames High standout, who played college ball at North Carolina as one of the most highly sought after recruits in the nation, also collected six rebounds, two assists and one steal in 33 minutes.