CNN
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Steph Curry put on a performance for the ages against the Sacramento Kings to give the Golden State Warriors a much-needed 116-113 win to end a five-game losing streak.
Curry was playing like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, finishing with a season-high 47 of 17 points for 24 shooting, eight rebounds, eight assists and 7 for 12 from three-point range.
Andrew Wiggins added 25 points and 10 rebounds and Klay Thompson added 16 to help the Warriors cross the line. Draymond Green also had a strong all-around performance with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
But the night was all about Curry, who was dominant from cue until the final buzzer when he made two free throws with 1.3 seconds on the clock to seal the win.
He sank 53 three-pointers after 10 games, a mark only surpassed once, by himself in the 2018/19 season.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after the game, “Steph was breathtaking. He is one of the greatest players of all time. He plays well so many nights… it even seemed like something special to him.
Green added: “It was definitely Game 4 of the NBA Finals for me. He just wasn’t going to allow us to lose.
While Curry was brilliant, the Warriors’ early-season struggles were evident, with play off the bench falling short of the usual brilliance of the starting five.
That gap was evident against the Kings. The Warriors, after resting four of their stars in their last game, took a 12-point lead after eight minutes. But after the starters were replaced, the Kings overturned the deficit and finished the quarter with a two-point lead, 31-29.
This pattern would continue, with the Warriors bench outscored 49-15 by the Kings. The Kings extended their lead into the second, edging the Dubs by 10 points and taking a 12-point halftime lead, but with Kerr losing confidence in his bench he kept his starters who, led by Curry, have resumed play.
By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors were still down nine points, but Curry took it to the next level.
He scored 17 points in the final quarter and, with the Warriors one point later, he had two free throws to kill the game.
It was Curry’s eighth 30-point haul in 10 games so far this year, tying a franchise mark by Warriors greats Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry, and Curry’s average of 32.6 points per game so far. now would be the highest of his career.
After the game, Curry said, “That’s the story of this team. As veterinarians, you understand that every year is a little different and you are ready for that challenge. For these young guys, trying to find themselves in this league and also in a specific role is a challenge.
And that’s the challenge for Kerr, making the most of the young talent around the seasoned veterans.
With Green and Thompson’s injury issues, the Warriors will need to get more from their bench as the season progresses. But if this performance is anything to go by, maybe all Dubs needs is Curry.
