Golden State star Stephen Curry drilled 12 three-pointers in a scintillating 56-point display that carried the Warriors to a 121-115 NBA victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday (all times AEDT).
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Curry’s explosive performance helped the Warriors dig themselves out of a 17-point hole, Curry signalling the start of the fightback with a three-pointer from beyond the halfcourt line to end the first half that pulled the Warriors within 66-52 at the break.
In the third quarter he single-handedly out-scored the Magic with 22 points to Orlando’s 21.
The four-time NBA champion finished two three-pointers shy of former teammate Klay Thompson’s record for most three-pointers in a game — 14, established back in 2018.
It was Curry’s 14th career game with at least 50 points — his career-high is 62 — and his 26th with 10 or more three-pointers.
He made his dozen three-pointers on just 19 attempts and was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.
He also chipped in four rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.
“It never gets old,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of watching Curry, noting the support that the player had from fans in Orlando — some decked out in Curry’s jersey number 30 and others who just got caught up in the show.
“Even the Magic fans, they know they’re witnessing the greatest shooter ever and one of the greatest performers ever,” Kerr said.
“It’s not just the shots going in. It’s the fluidity, the beauty of his movement and motion and his audacity — the shots that he’s willing to take.”
Fuelled by Curry, the Warriors pushed their lead to as many as 12 points late in the third quarter.
The Magic, led by 41 points from Paolo Banchero, had pulled within two points with 1:55 remaining when Curry drilled another three and the Warriors pulled away.
“I’m just blessed, like I always say, to play this game, enjoy the competition, the creativity,” Curry said, calling the energy from the road crowd “pretty insane.”
“For us to win this game, obviously, it took all those points, but it took a collective resilience that I love that we showed tonight.”
Doncic triple-double downs Mavericks | 02:16
In Phoenix, the Suns suffered a third-straight loss, falling to the 16-43 Pelicans in a 124-115 result as their underwhelming season continued.
Zion Williamson’s first career triple-double (27 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) powered New Orleans past the 27-32 Suns, who are now five games below .500 and sit 3.5 games outside the West’s play-in.
Devin Booker top-scored for Phoenix with 36 and Kevin Durant added 28, but it wasn’t enough for Mike Budenholzer’s side, which is 2-10 over its last 12 games.
In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points with 19 rebounds and seven assists as the Bucks withstood Denver star Nikola Jokic’s 27th triple-double of the season in a 121-112 victory over the Nuggets.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic scored 32 points with 14 rebounds and 10 assists, but he was held to six points in the fourth quarter as the Bucks clamped down defensively for their fifth win in their last six games.
“I feel like we have so much patience,” Antetokounmpo said of the Bucks’ ability to finally pull away in the fourth quarter of a close game that the Nuggets led 57-54 at halftime.
“We made some shots and defensively we just made it tough for them,” he said.
ALL RESULTS
WARRIORS 121 MAGIC 115
HORNETS 96 MAVERICKS 103
PELICANS 124 SUNS 116
NUGGETS 112 BUCKS 121
TIMBERWOLVES – LAKERS
This article was originally published by a www.foxsports.com.au . Read the Original article here. .