A hallmark of an elite NBA player is their consistent ability to score. Even when facing challenges like poor shooting nights, foul trouble, or turnovers, they typically manage to score around 20-25 points. Therefore, when a box score reveals a single-digit score for a legendary scorer, it demands attention.
This was the case on Sunday when Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors scored a mere three points in a 106-96 defeat to the Houston Rockets. This marks Curry`s lowest score in an NBA game where he played for at least 30 minutes.
The future Hall of Famer struggled to find any offensive rhythm against the Houston Rockets` stifling defense. They limited him to just 1-for-10 shooting from the field, including 1 of 8 from beyond the 3-point line. Curry`s only successful shot was a 37-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the first half.
While shutting down a superstar requires a team effort, rookie Amen Thompson was primarily responsible for guarding Curry on Sunday, and he excelled in this role. Thompson persistently pursued Curry through screens, contested his jump shots without fouling, and applied pressure on his drives to the basket.
This defensive performance is even more impressive considering Curry`s recent scoring form, entering Sunday`s game with 52, 37, and 36 points in his previous three games.
`Curry has been on a hot streak recently, so we aimed to focus our defense on him,` Rockets coach Ime Udoka commented after their victory. `When you have a special talent like Amen Thompson performing as he did, this is the outcome.`
Rockets center Alperen Sengun also praised Thompson, who had previously helped limit MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 22 points on Friday, more than 10 points below his season average.
`Amen was completely focused all day. He was locked in and unapproachable,` Sengun noted. `In the last two games, he has been shutting down some of the best players globally, some of the best in the league. It`s remarkable for a second-year player. He`s making a case for Defensive Player of the Year.`
Warriors forward Jimmy Butler offered a different perspective on the Rockets` defensive success against Curry.
`I`ve never witnessed a player being fouled as frequently as he is,` Butler stated about Curry. `I find it unbelievable. It might sound strange, but he`s accustomed to it. It`s been a constant throughout his career, and he consistently finds ways to overcome it.`
Employing physicality against Curry, especially when he is off-ball, has long been a common defensive strategy. Ultimately, the effectiveness of this approach depends on the referees` officiating. On Sunday, the Rockets effectively navigated the line between physical defense and fouling, limiting Curry to one of his least productive offensive performances.
Jasper Hawthorne