Stephen Curry Ignites, Warriors Dominate: Catch the Heat!

Hello, I’m Dan Gartland. Regrettably, I missed a game-winning shot yesterday because I was engrossed in another nail-biter. Clearly, I need to perfect my multi-screen viewing tactics before the upcoming weekend.

Highlights in today’s SI:AM:

Warriors on a winning streak
Updated tournament brackets
Troubling updates for Duke

Stephen Curry’s Stellar Performance

As the NBA trade deadline approached, the Golden State Warriors were at a crossroads. Their record was hovering at .500, and their path to the playoffs seemed reliant on navigating the play-in tournament. At that point, the team seemed stuck in mediocrity. They faced a critical decision: continue with the existing roster and focus on future development, or make a drastic move in the trade market to leverage the remaining prime years of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

They chose the latter—and the results have surpassed expectations.

On February 6, the Warriors executed a major five-team trade to bring in Jimmy Butler, a dissatisfied star from the Miami Heat. The deal cost them Andrew Wiggins and this year’s first-round draft pick, but the gamble has paid off.

Since acquiring Butler, the Warriors have posted a 13–2 record, the second-best in the league during this period. They’ve moved up from 10th to sixth in the Western Conference, now just three games behind fourth place, which would secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Butler’s arrival has significantly boosted the Warriors’ performance. Despite being 35, he remains a formidable defender and has proven to be a more effective scoring option behind Curry compared to Wiggins. However, it is Curry who remains the primary driving force of the team’s resurgence. Before the trade, he was averaging 22.7 points per game with a .431 shooting percentage. In the last 15 games, his average has jumped to 28.7 points on .495 shooting.

On a recent Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings, Curry made history by becoming the first NBA player to hit 4,000 career three-pointers, leading the Warriors to their sixth consecutive victory, 130–104. Although Curry scored only 11 points and Butler just six, the team’s depth shone through as seven other players scored in double digits. Green topped the scoring with 23 points. Moses Moody and Buddy Hield each added significant contributions, hitting four three-pointers apiece. Another positive development for the Warriors was the return of Jonathan Kuminga, who scored 18 points off the bench in his first game since early January, having recovered from a sprained ankle.

Kuminga’s comeback is timely. The team has been performing well, and his return adds depth that will be crucial for their continued success. Kuminga had a standout third season in 2023–24, becoming a vital part of the Warriors’ lineup. His absence allowed other frontcourt players like rookie 7-footer Quinten Post, who started 11 of the last 20 games, to gain valuable experience. Coach Steve Kerr now has a broader selection of reliable players in his frontcourt arsenal.

Before the Butler trade, Curry, Green, and Kerr openly discussed the potential benefits of a major trade. Now, it’s clear they made the right decision. The trade has propelled the Warriors from a potential play-in team to one of the top teams in the league. While they might not be the outright favorites for the Finals, they stand comfortably among the top Western Conference contenders, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Memphis Grizzlies. More importantly, they are well-positioned for a deeper playoff run than previously anticipated, offering more opportunities for Curry and Butler to excel in the postseason.

Highlights from Sports Illustrated

• Kevin Sweeney’s latest bracket watch focuses on the nerve-racking weekend ahead for many bubble teams.

• Bryan Fischer is in Charlotte for the ACC tournament, where the biggest story Thursday was Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury. Flagg is unlikely to play for the rest of the conference tournament, and his injury is bad news for Duke’s national championship hopes, Fischer writes.

• Pat Forde reflects on the life and career of esteemed sports journalist John Feinstein, the longtime Washington Post columnist and author who passed away Thursday.

• Chris Mannix analyzes how the Rockets have quickly transformed from one of the worst teams in the NBA to a championship contender.

• Jon Wertheim provides an in-depth profile of UConn coach Dan Hurley for 60 Minutes ahead of the Huskies’ attempt at a historic third consecutive national championship.

• The Spurs received more disappointing injury news weeks after Victor Wembanyama was sidelined for the season with a blood clot. Now, De’Aaron Fox will be out with a hand injury.

Top Five Moments

… moments I witnessed last night:

5. Layden Blocker’s clutch floater tied the game for DePaul in overtime. Creighton ultimately won in double OT, but Blue Demons coach Chris Holtmann has been pivotal in turning the team around after a dismal 3–29 finish last year.
4. Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony’s home run, despite fans chanting “overrated” at him.
3. Linus Ullmark’s incredible diving save.
2. Otega Oweh’s decisive layup secured a victory for Kentucky over Oklahoma.
1. Chucky Hepburn’s last-second game-winner for Louisville after an intense final sequence.