Steph Curry’s 49 points lead Warriors to wild 109-108 win over Wembanyama, Spurs
Wednesday night or Friday night.
Curry followed his 46-point outing with 49 points – to equal Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games (44) in NBA history after turning 30 – to power the Warriors to a 109-108 win in NBA Cup play. He also made the go-ahead free throws with 6.8 seconds to play, scoring 31 points in the second half.
Jimmy Butler added 21 points and eight rebounds for Golden State (8-6) as Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II scored six fourth-quarter points apiece. Draymond Green made Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama work for 26 points and 12 rebounds on 10-of-21 shooting. Golden State turned 21 turnovers into 25 points to start a two-game winning streak.
The Warriors led 47-45 at halftime, mitigating 37% shooting by forcing 14 turnovers and turning them into 17 points. Green denied Wembanyama favorable position around the basket – limiting him to one shot in the paint – and Golden State clogged driving lanes and closed out to shooters, disrupting their rhythm.
Curry scored 18 first-half points, attacking with his dribble and 3-point shot. He powered an 18-11 advantage with two first-quarter triples and a layup, but the Warriors didn’t score the last 4:03 and trailed 20-18 entering the second.
Held to 13 points Wednesday on 5-of-14 shooting, De’Aaron Fox scored 14 first-half points – using his dribble to probe the paint with two 3-pointers. Butler opened offense from the post and Richard found openings off the ball for 10 first-half points apiece.
Curry carried Golden State with 17 third-quarter points, canning four triples and adding a layup and a floater through contact en route to an old-fashioned three-point play. Butler added seven points, but San Antonio scored 34 – slashing and kicking for 13-of-19 shooting with 10 assists.
The Spurs (8-4) opened the fourth quarter with an 8-3 burst keyed by two 3-pointers from Julian Champagnie, forcing a timeout to 9:13 to play. Baskets were traded the rest of the quarter, thrilling the Frost Bank Center crowd.
Trash talk, too. Wembanyama finished a lob on a baseline-out-of-bounds play over Green, who nullified the basket by fouling him. Oblivious at first to the overruled basket, Wembanyama yelled and stared at Green chest-to-chest after yelling in celebration. The crowd intensified its enthusiasm and Green fouled Wembanyama on the ensuing inbounds. His fifth foul sent him to the bench with 7:52 to play.
Green returned with 1:32 against a 104-101 deficit and scored at the rim after Curry and Stephon Castle alternated baskets. Wembanyama and Butler traded baskets and Curry drew the go-ahead free throws, making them with 6.4 seconds to play. Fox missed a jumper at the buzzer.