Stephen Curry’s Classic Show Powers Warriors to Victory Over Rockets

Hello, this is Dan Gartland speaking. I’ve probably replayed Steph Curry’s incredible shot around 15 times just this morning.

Here’s what’s in store in today’s SI:AM:

Warriors clinch Game 1
Top 200 NFL prospects
NWSL power rankings

A showcase of athleticism

How often have we witnessed Stephen Curry perform as he did last Sunday against the Houston Rockets? Although Curry has scored more than 31 points in 288 other games, his performance during the Golden State Warriors’ victory in Game 1 in Houston is still one of his most memorable playoff performances.

The statistics from the box score might not look exceptional at first glance. Curry made 12 out of 19 shots from the field, including five out of nine from beyond the arc, alongside six rebounds and three assists. The most striking aspect of his statistics is that he only made two free throw attempts. This marks only the 11th game in his career where he scored at least 30 points with 20 or fewer field-goal attempts and fewer than three free-throw attempts.

Yet, more than any other player, Curry’s brilliance transcends mere statistics. The box score might tell you how many shots he made, but it’s the manner in which these shots are made that sets Curry apart. His performance this past Sunday featured several of those awe-inspiring moments that have defined him as the most thrilling player of his era.

He blew past Fred VanVleet with smooth dribbling in a fast break before launching a three-pointer. He sank a shot from 28 feet out despite a defender’s presence, made a running three from 34 feet off an inbounds pass, and executed a step-back three as the shot clock ran out. He also scored several impressive layups.

However, one particular shot was especially remarkable. In the third quarter, with the Warriors leading by 20 points, Curry made what could be described as one of his career-best shots. Surrounded by Jalen Green as the shot clock wound down, Curry launched a high-arcing shot while tumbling into the first row. For any other player, this would be seen as a desperate throw. Curry, however, swished it through the net flawlessly.

The Warriors relied heavily on Curry’s outstanding performance, as the rest of the team struggled offensively. Jimmy Butler contributed 25 points and Brandin Podziemski added 14, but no other player scored over seven points.

“He was phenomenal,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr remarked. “Facing intense pressure from [Amen] Thompson and others, he just made some incredible plays and obviously carried us offensively.”

Despite their victory in Game 1 on the road, the Golden State Warriors still face a tough challenge in this opening-round series against the Rockets. Houston is a much stronger team than what they displayed in Game 1, where they shot a poor 6 of 29 from three-point range. However, this current version of the Warriors, post their trade for Butler in early February, shows significant improvement, having posted a 25–8 record since then. This is one of the best records in the NBA during this period, surpassed only by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics. Curry, who was averaging 22.7 points per game before Butler’s arrival, has since improved to an average of 27.4 points per game.

At 37, there are still questions about whether Curry can maintain this high level of performance throughout the demanding schedule of postseason basketball. Yet, at least for one night, he delivered a classic Steph Curry performance that has reignited belief that the Warriors could be serious contenders in the Western Conference.

Highlights from Sports Illustrated

• It’s the week of the NFL draft. Daniel Flick has ranked the top 200 players up for grabs, including a surprising placement for quarterbacks.
• Tyler Lauletta has listed the top 10 entrances at this weekend’s WrestleMania 41.
• The Kansas City Current is leading Theo Lloyd-Hughes’s NWSL power rankings.
• Ben Steiner predicts the five MLS teams most likely to sign Thomas Müller from Bayern Munich this summer.
• Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has confirmed his transfer to UCLA.
• Padres infielder Luis Arraez was hospitalized following a severe collision at first base.
• Max Fried’s attempt at a no-hitter ended controversially due to a change in scoring. (He eventually allowed a hit later, but it was still an odd situation.)

Max Fried’s attempt at a no-hitter ended controversially due to a change in scoring. (He eventually allowed a hit later, but it still remains an unusual circumstance.)

Top five moments

…highlights I witnessed yesterday:

5. Mitch Marner’s brilliant breakaway goal.
4. Elly De La Cruz’s incredible diving catch.
3. Ty Jerome’s 28 points in 26 minutes off the bench for the Cavs.
2. Alperen Sengun’s powerful dunk over Draymond Green.
1. Nationals shortstop Nasim Nuñez’s extraordinary speed to catch a ball in shallow left field.