Stephen Curry dropped 41 points Saturday night, single-handedly dragging the Golden State Warriors to a 126-119 overtime victory against a surprisingly pesky Orlando Magic squad. This wasn’t one of their easy wins on the current seven-game streak, which is now their longest since March 2025, but it pushed their record to 7-3 and showed exactly why they rely on the seasoned veteran.
Curry Goes Nuclear When It Counted Most
Forget about taking games off, the Warriors needed Curry bad against the Magic. He came off the bench with 4:34 left in regulation, the score tied at 96, and instantly turned back the clock. The 38-year-old poured in 12 points in those final minutes with long-range bombs, floaters, and driving layups, nearly sealing the deal. But Orlando’s Jamal Cain crushed those hopes with an offensive rebound and bucket with 1.5 seconds left, forcing overtime. Curry, alongside Draymond Green, even sat out the start of OT, a smart nod to their years in the league, but they were back out there soon enough. Curry then added another five points in the extra frame, making sure the Warriors got that W. He finished 13-for-19 from the field, going 5-for-10 from deep, and this marks his second 40-plus point game this season, following a 44-point explosion against Minnesota on October 28. Even wilder? This was his 16th game with 40 or more points since turning 35, an NBA record he keeps extending.
The Ugly Truth Behind The Streak
While the win streak is beautiful, this one was far from it. The Warriors racked up a whopping 18 turnovers and got absolutely hammered on the boards, with Orlando outrebounding them 57-42. And remember their recent habit of digging early holes? Well, they actually started strong this time, building a 16-point halftime lead. But guess what? That cushion vanished in a ragged third quarter. The Magic, even without Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, and Jalen Suggs, fought back hard. Tristan da Silva even buried a three-pointer at the 3:23 mark of that third quarter to give Orlando its first lead of the game. It was a stunner for both the team and the crowd. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who put up 23 points himself, had his hands full defending Magic’s leading scorer Franz Wagner, who still managed 30 points despite Lendeborg’s good footwork. Thankfully, the Warriors’ crisp ball movement in the first half helped build that lead, with 19 assists on 22 made shots.
The Warriors got the job done, extending their impressive run to seven straight victories and moving to a solid 7-3 on the season. When they needed someone to put the team on his back, a 38-year-old legend answered the call. That’s the kind of grit that makes a difference early in the regular season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply