Stephen Curry delivered one of his most dominant performances of the season, dropping 52 points and hitting 12 three-pointers to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 134-125 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was in awe of Curry’s performance, highlighting his star player’s conditioning and relentless shot-making.
“Incredible. Fifty-two points with people draped all over him all game long,” Kerr said, per Anthony Slater. “The conditioning. The skill. The audacity. The belief.”
Curry’s offensive explosion helped Golden State (44-31) move past Memphis (44-32) for fifth place in the Western Conference standings. With just a handful of games remaining, the Warriors are positioning themselves for a top-six finish to avoid the play-in tournament.
From the opening tip, Curry was locked in, scoring 32 points in the first half while connecting on his first five shot attempts, including four three-pointers. His long-range shooting forced the Grizzlies to make defensive adjustments, but they had no answer for the two-time MVP.
Ja Morant led Memphis with 36 points and six assists, but his efforts weren’t enough to stop the team’s losing skid, which extended to four games. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22 points, while rookie Zach Edey posted a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Golden State started fast, taking a 45-32 lead in the first quarter behind Curry’s hot shooting. Memphis fought back, trimming the deficit to 70-66 at halftime, but the Warriors extended their lead in the third quarter and never relinquished control.
Curry shot 16-of-31 from the field and 12-of-20 from beyond the arc, adding 10 rebounds and eight assists to his stat line. He became the first player in NBA history to record multiple 50-point games while making 10 or more three-pointers in a single season.
Jimmy Butler provided a strong second scoring option with 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Draymond Green notched a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. The Warriors also received valuable contributions from Buddy Hield and Quinten Post off the bench.
Golden State’s efficiency from the free-throw line played a crucial role in securing the win, as they went a perfect 28-of-28 from the stripe. Memphis, in comparison, made 19-of-22 free throws.
The Warriors also controlled the rebounding battle, finishing with a 49-43 edge on the glass. Defensively, they forced 16 turnovers, with Curry and Green combining for seven steals.
For Memphis, Santi Aldama scored 18 points off the bench, while Desmond Bane added 19 points and five assists. Despite their efforts, the Grizzlies have now dropped from second place in the West in early February to sixth, putting them at risk of slipping into the play-in tournament.
With only a few games left in the regular season, Golden State will look to maintain its momentum, while Memphis must find a way to reverse its downward trajectory before the postseason begins.
