Stephen Curry nearly etched his name in the record books once again during the Golden State Warriors’ 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
The two-time MVP erupted for 52 points, drilling 12 three-pointers in a performance reminiscent of his prime. However, as he torched the Grizzlies’ defense, one thought lingered in his mind—his former teammate and longtime Splash Brother, Klay Thompson.
Curry started the game on fire, sinking eight threes in the first half and putting himself in striking distance of breaking Thompson’s NBA record of 14 made three-pointers in a single game. But as the final quarter approached, reality set in.
“The first two threes of the fourth quarter, I definitely was thinking about Klay. Chicago. This is as close as I’ve been with the amount of time left,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area postgame, via ClutchPoints. “After that, reality check. We had to win the game. You don’t want to sabotage anything.”
Curry finished 16-of-31 from the field and 12-of-20 from beyond the arc while also grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out eight assists. His scoring outburst powered the Warriors (44-31) past the Grizzlies (44-32) in a crucial battle for Western Conference playoff positioning.
Golden State jumped out to a fast start, leading 45-32 after the first quarter behind Curry’s relentless shooting. Memphis fought back, cutting the deficit to 70-66 by halftime, but the Warriors responded with a dominant third quarter to regain control.
Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 36 points and six assists, while Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 22 points. Rookie center Zach Edey added 10 points and 16 rebounds, but Memphis could not slow down Curry’s offensive onslaught.
Draymond Green posted a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Jimmy Butler added 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting. The Warriors also capitalized on their free throws, converting all 28 of their attempts, while Memphis went 19-of-22 from the line.
Golden State’s defense made the difference down the stretch, forcing 16 Memphis turnovers. The Warriors also controlled the glass, outrebounding the Grizzlies 49-43, with Buddy Hield and Quinten Post providing key contributions off the bench.
With the win, the Warriors moved up to fifth place in the Western Conference standings, leapfrogging the Grizzlies and taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the season series. Memphis, once a top seed in February, is now at risk of slipping into the play-in tournament.
Despite falling short of breaking Thompson’s record, Curry’s performance reinforced his status as one of the most dangerous shooters in NBA history. He may not have surpassed his longtime backcourt mate, but his influence—and the legacy of the Splash Brothers—remains stronger than ever.
