In a thrilling overtime showdown, Stephen Curry propelled the Golden State Warriors to a 137-131 victory against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. Of course, this was a spectacular return from Curry himself, as he finished with 42 points—the second-highest total he’s poured in during 17 home openers. The victory pushed the Warriors record to 2-0 and provided early momentum in proving the Warriors are a threat to contend strongly in the conference.
Curry proved his accident-prone shooting hand wasn’t in his pocket with a masterful 14-of-25 from the field performance that included six treys. He knocked down a step into, semi-contested 34-footer off a screen with ease. His talent for hitting big essential shots in awkward moments was on display as he released the tying bucket late in regulation. The star guard opened overtime with another three-pointer and capped off the game with two free throws, solidifying his team’s lead.
That statement was true before last night’s game, when it was just Aaron Gordon delivering an evening of 50+ points peaks. In contrast to Curry’s contributions, Gordon’s accomplishment was eclipsed, further cementing Curry’s legacy as a clutch player.
That was my biggest concern. Could we execute offensively? Stotts and DeMarco soothed my fears by having me remember that we have Steph and Jimmy, and they’ll always find a way to score. It was a curated, dim sum selection,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in recognizing the enormous impact that Curry felt in the game had.
Curry’s history in home openers is impressive. He has dropped 42 points or more in seven of these games, something no other player in NBA history has ever done in 7 straight games. At the very least, this consistency allows us to compare his propensity to conquer high-pressure situations from the get-go of the season.
The Warriors’ success was due in no small part to the ingenious strategies of assistant coaches Terry Stotts and Chris DeMarco. From there, they double down with a larger lineup that played to Curry’s strengths next to stars such as Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga. That decision paid off as the five-man platoon ably finished off their most impressive victory of the season against a strong opponent in Xavier.
“It was really fun to watch a group that’s never played together close a game against one of the best teams in the league,” Kerr added, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in their victory.
Draymond Green chimed in too, noting how when it’s by design that Curry steps up to the occasion. “The bigger the moment, the more he rises. He’s this quiet guy … but he loves the show. Anytime there’s a show to be put on, he’s going to do it,” Green stated, highlighting Curry’s penchant for delivering in critical moments.
As the Warriors continue their season, Curry’s performance against the Nuggets serves as a testament to their potential as contenders in the Western Conference. The sum of Curry’s all-world scoring abilities and bolstered ball movement and teamwork puts the team in a great place going forward.
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