In a heart-stopping clash that came down to the final seconds, Stephen Curry delivered a scintillating performance to lead the Golden State Warriors to a thrilling 120-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The two-time MVP erupted for 23 second-half points, including a jaw-dropping 12-point flurry in the last four minutes, to will his team to victory against his former teammate Klay Thompson and the Mavericks.
Curry’s Late-Game Takeover
With the game hanging in the balance and the Warriors trailing by six, Curry took over. The sharpshooter knocked down a deep 28-foot three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Daniel Gafford to ignite the Warriors’ comeback. Moments later, he sliced through the defense for an acrobatic scoop layup, cutting the deficit to one.
But Curry saved his most electrifying shot for last. With just 25 seconds remaining and the Warriors clinging to a one-point lead, Curry sized up Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II at the top of the arc. In a flash, Curry created a sliver of daylight, rose up, and launched a dagger three-pointer that ripped through the net, sending the Chase Center crowd into a frenzy.
“Night Night” Celebration and Raw Emotion
As the ball dropped through the hoop, Curry broke out his iconic “Night Night” celebration, pretending to tuck the Mavericks into bed. He then charged toward the crowd, grabbed his jersey, and let out a primal scream, later telling ESPN it was “raw emotion.”
You better stay here.
Stephen Curry, in the heat of the moment
Curry admitted the celebration was a bit premature, as the Mavericks answered with a three-pointer of their own to make it a one-point game with 20 seconds left. “It was a little premature, but thankfully I’m still undefeated on the Night Night,” Curry joked after the game.
Curry’s Dominant Stat Line
The baby-faced assassin finished the night with a season-high 37 points on a sizzling 14-of-27 shooting, including 5-of-12 from beyond the arc. He also tallied nine rebounds and two steals in a dominant all-around performance.
Warriors’ Strategy and Adjustments
The Warriors made a concerted effort to involve Curry in more pick-and-roll actions down the stretch, forcing the Mavericks’ bigs to defend in space. This opened up driving lanes for Curry to attack the basket or create open looks for his teammates.
When you see him with that type of emotion, everyone else just falls in line. I try to lead in that category. But when he is up like that, I just move to the side and let him do his thing and then support.
Draymond Green on Curry’s leadership
Mavericks’ Perspective
For the Mavericks, it was a bitter pill to swallow, especially for Thompson in his first game against his former team. “It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries,” Thompson lamented. “Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. I know I’ve been on the other end, and it sucks.”
Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic tipped his cap to Curry while lamenting his team’s defense. “I think we should have done a better job guarding him,” Doncic said. “But it’s Steph Curry, so sometimes there’s nothing you can do.”
Looking Ahead
The Warriors’ thrilling victory improves their record to 7-3 on the young season, as they look to build momentum in their quest for another championship. As for Curry, performances like these only solidify his case as one of the greatest players in NBA history, capable of taking over games in the blink of an eye with his unparalleled shooting and flair for the dramatic.
