Steph’s heroic performance vs. Magic propels Warriors in time of need

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Steph’s heroic performance vs. Magic propels Warriors in time of need originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Even now, when a revamped roster and fortified internal belief has the Warriors surging, there will be games when Stephen Curry is their salvation.

The first such game since Golden State’s post-Jimmy Butler III revival came Thursday night in Orlando.
With Draymond Green missing layups, Brandin Podziemski posting a minus-20 in his first 16 minutes, Moses Moody missing each of his shots and Butler with his worst first half as a Warrior, Curry read the room and understood his assignment.

As he has so many times in the past, Curry embraced the task and delivered. His third-quarter outburst – scoring 22 of his season-high 56 points in 10 minutes – pulled the Warriors from the edge of defeat and carried them to a 121-115 victory over the Magic.

“He took over the game when we were reeling,” Green told reporters at Kia Center. “That first quarter, really the first half, we had nothing going and he kept us afloat. And he continued that in the third quarter and completely took the game over. It was good to see him put up that performance because we needed it.”

To illustrate how essential Curry was to the Warriors winning their fifth consecutive game, he outscored his fellow starters by 21 points. He did with 16-of-25 shooting from the field, including 12-of-19 from deep and 12-of-12 from the line.

He was so focused, and realized his scoring was so imperative, that he did not record an assist. This was his third such game this season but the first in a win.

“We’re spoiled around here,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We’re used to it, but it never gets old watching.”

How can it get old when Curry’s excellence is the primary reason the Warriors have evolved from ordinary NBA team to a global symbol of joy and success? When they are stumbling through a game, as they were Thursday, trailing by as much as 17 in the first half, and Curry spares them a night of despair?

Curry’s 16-point second quarter, punctuated by a 51-foot halftime buzzer-beater that trimmed the deficit to 14, laid the foundation for…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/stephs-heroic-performance-vs-magic-214937165.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-02-27 21:49:00

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