“He who had it, kept it.”
Last night, nothing stood in the way of Stephen Curry shining once again in the clutch.
The Warriors’ superstar racked up 17 of his 41 points in the final seven minutes to edge the Orlando Magic in overtime, 126-119.
This marked his second game of the season with 40 or more points and the 77th time in his 18-year NBA career.
And even more impressive. Curry has posted 16 games with at least 40 points since turning 35, surpassing two legends, LeBron James (15) and Michael Jordan (12).
“It makes me proud of all the work that has gone into it, especially given some injuries and everything else,” Curry said.
“Knowing I can still reach a certain level is something that motivates me. Especially when it happens in a win like tonight, where we needed those points. I value this longevity a lot,” he added.
Stephen Curry finished with 41 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists on 13/19 shooting from the field; including 5/10 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 10/10 from the free-throw line.
“Work ethic,” noted Steve Kerr.
“Good genes. He’s been blessed with a body that holds up well. But he earned it through strength, conditioning and excellent form,” Kerr emphasized.
The Warriors needed their best version of Curry to prevail against a Magic squad that played with urgency.
Orlando climbed back from a 16-point deficit to take a six-point lead into the final period.
However, Curry’s sensational stretch sealed the deal. He scored 12 points in the final 2:21 of regulation, including two decisive triples.
Other Standouts
Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg (23 points and 8 rebounds); Brandin Podziemski (15 points); Georges Niang (11 points).
Magic: Franz Wagner (30 points and 11 assists); Tristan da Silva (19 points); Wendell Carter Jr. (19 points); Anthony Black (18 points); Jamal Cain (18 points and 12 rebounds).
