Stephen Curry delivered another electrifying performance on Tuesday, putting on a show that demanded immediate attention. His Golden State Warriors relied heavily on his incredible 52 points, fueled by 12 three-pointers, to secure a crucial 134-125 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, one of the most significant wins of their season.
This win propels the Warriors, who were barely holding onto a play-in tournament spot after the All-Star break, past Memphis to claim the coveted No. 5 seed in the Western Conference with only six games remaining. Crucially, the Warriors (44-31) now hold the tiebreaker advantage over both the Grizzlies (44-32) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (43-32), a significant edge in a tight race as the season approaches its final week.
Beyond his remarkable 52 points, Curry made NBA history by becoming the first player ever to achieve at least 12 three-pointers, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and five steals in a single game.
This game marked Curry`s 15th career 50-point game, with an impressive 10 of them occurring after his 30th birthday. This is an NBA record, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain`s previous record of seven. Furthermore, his 15th 50-point game surpasses Rick Barry for the most in Warriors franchise history.
Remarkably, Curry`s 15 career 50-point games are just one more than LeBron James` 14. This game also marked the fourth time he has made at least 12 three-pointers in a game, exceeding Klay Thompson for the most such games in NBA history.
Adding to his achievements on Tuesday, Curry also passed Jerry West to move into 25th place on the NBA`s all-time scoring list. He started strong in Memphis, sinking four three-pointers in the first eight minutes and becoming the oldest player in history to record 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a single half. He added three more three-pointers in the third quarter, raising the possibility of breaking his career-high of 13 three-pointers, or even Thompson`s NBA record of 14.
While Curry didn`t quite reach those records, he faced a tougher stretch in the fourth quarter, missing five of his first six shots as the game tightened and Golden State struggled to generate offense elsewhere. However, a timely three-pointer from the left corner at the 2:55 mark stopped an 8-2 Memphis run, and the Warriors outscored the Grizzlies 13-6 for the remainder of the game.
Curry received crucial support down the stretch. Brandin Podziemski made a game-changing tip-in off a missed Curry three-pointer, which felt like the decisive play.
Forty seconds later, Moses Moody, who boasts a 22-4 record as a starter this season, sealed the victory with a corner three-pointer.
These critical plays by Podziemski and Moody are significant in the context of Curry`s dominant 50-point performance. They highlight the supporting cast`s potential to step up when it matters most, which is crucial for the Warriors` postseason aspirations. While Curry, Draymond Green, and perhaps Jimmy Butler are expected to perform consistently, the question remains whether the supporting players can contribute effectively in crucial moments.
Tuesday`s game offered promising signs, suggesting that the Warriors` supporting cast is ready to contribute, and for now, it has propelled them into a top-five seed.
Interestingly, if the playoffs were to begin today, we would witness a captivating first-round matchup between Curry`s Warriors and LeBron James` Lakers for the 4-5 seed. Get ready for an exciting series.
Jasper Hawthorne