Stephen Curry came through when it mattered most, leading the Warriors to a thrilling 125-116 overtime victory over the Bucks on Saturday at Chase Center.
In a clash of the two most recent NBA Champions, Curry scored 22 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, lifting the Warriors to their seventh straight home victory, improving their record at Chase Center to 28-7 and 35-33 overall.
Down by eight with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Stephen Curry went on a personal 8-0 run to tie the game at 108-108. He scored the Warriors’ final 11 points of the period, including another game-tying 3-pointer with 18.0 seconds left that answered Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday’s go-ahead trey. And after hitting several clutch shots, Curry also made the defensive play of the game, blocking Holiday’s shot on what could have been a game-winning possession for the Bucks.
Curry had nine more points in overtime on 3-for-4 shooting, and his sixth 3-pointer of the night capped a 9-2 run to start the extra period. The Warriors outscored Milwaukee 14-5 in overtime, handing the Bucks – playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo (sore hand) – just their second loss in their last 21 games.
Golden State Warriors Highlights vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Team Leaders
GSW
| Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Curry - 36 | Looney - 15 | Green - 9 |
| Thompson - 22 | D. Green - 13 | Curry - 4 |
| DiVincenzo - 20 | DiVincenzo - 10 | Looney/Poole - 4 |
MIL
| Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Lopez - 19 | Portis - 13 | Holiday - 8 |
| Middleton - 19 | Holiday - 9 | Ingles - 7 |
| Holiday - 18 | Lopez - 7 | Middleton - 5 |
Slow Start Offensively
Nearly halfway through the first quarter (6:45 left), each team had scored just four points. The Warriors made just one of their first 10 shots, while the Bucks hit two of their first 11. Draymond Green and Brook Lopez created havoc by anchoring their respective defenses. The Dubs were met with significant resistance when attacking the basket, with Bucks center Brook Lopez altering multiple shots at the rim (five total blocks). After a Steve Kerr timeout, the Dubs bounced back offensively, hitting nine of their final 16 shots to take a two point lead after one.
Huge Games for Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green
The Warriors hit 10-of-24 3-pointers (41.7%) in the first half. Donte DiVincenzo (4) and JaMychal Green (3) combined to hit seven 3-pointers in that span and were the only players in double figures at the break (13 points for Green; 12 points for DiVincenzo). DiVincenzo's fourth triple gave the Dubs a one point lead at halftime.
For the game, DiVincenzo tied a career-high, hitting six 3-pointers. He also recorded his third double-double of the season and the first of his career with 20 or more points. JaMychal Green scored a season-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, 4-of-6 from deep.
“I take pride and I take it personally,” Donte DiVincenzo said on how he feels playing against his former team. “Love those guys over there, but I want to beat them every single time we play them. It feels good to get the win but it also feels good for us too. We made some mistakes in the fourth quarter, but at the end of the game, we buckled down. So, that's the feel-good part. We're down eight with what two minutes, something like that left? We got some stops, Steph did what Steph does and we came together in overtime and we got the win.”
Season High for JaMychal Green
16-2 Third Quarter Run
A JaMychal Green 3-pointer capped off a 16-2 third quarter run for the Warriors (from 11:08 to 8:22), and the Warriors led by as many as 13 points. Klay Thompson scored 11 of his 22 points in the third, including a series of back-to-back 3-pointers.
“Yeah, JaMychal (Green) was huge tonight. He really came in and gave us a lift,” Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr said when speaking on JaMychal Green’s impact. “Just the way that Milwaukee plays defense with (Brook) Lopez at the rim. They have a pretty unique defense for the modern NBA. He sits at the rim and in a drop and they just try to put pressure on ball handlers everywhere to make the threes tough on Steph and Klay (Thompson). I think in the first half Steph had one and Klay didn't have any or maybe it was vice versa, but with him sitting in the paint that opens it up for a shooting big and J-Mike filled that role beautifully.”
Postgame Warriors Talks
Curry the Closer
Trailing by eight with 1:55 remaining in the final frame, Stephen Curry was determined not to let the Warriors lose a fourth straight game. So, first, Curry fed Draymond Green and relocated to the right corner for a triple. He again found Green, who dimed him up with a behind-the-back pass. Then, with elite perimeter defender Jrue Holiday draped all over him, Curry used a pump fake to get Holiday in the air, creating the space he needed to drill another three. In transition after a Bucks turnover, Curry finished at the rim to knot the game at 108. Jrue Holiday made a deep three on the other end, so the Dubs again needed Curry's magic to keep the game alive. After receiving the inbounds pass and a pesky Jevon Carter picking him up in the backcourt, Curry got to his spot at the top of the key and drilled the game-tying 3-pointer.
Stephen Curry Ties the Game
With a tie score and five seconds remaining, Stephen Curry was guarding Joe Ingles in the corner. Jrue Holiday had the ball and beat his initial defender, Donte DiVincenzo. Then, as he attempted to go up with a left-handed layup, Curry helped off Ingles and met Holiday at the rim for the clutch block. After a missed 3-pointer by Draymond Green, the game went into overtime. Curry outscored the Bucks 9-to-5 in the overtime period, securing the Warriors' victory. Curry is averaging a career-best 8.2 points per game in the fourth quarter and lead the Dubs to their second overtime win this season.
“Steph was incredible and he did it against one of the great defenders in the league in Jrue Holiday,” Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr said regarding Curry’s shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime. “Jrue is an amazing player. So strong and quick and just never quits on any possession and it’s amazing watching those two guys battle, but Steph is fearless. It doesn’t matter if there’s a slow start or if he hasn’t had much going he can ignite at any time. I thought that comeback down the stretch, I think we were down eight with about 2 minutes left, championship stuff. That’s the team that has won four titles. They know how to do it and they got it done tonight against probably the best team in the league. I know they didn’t have Giannis (Antetokounmpo) but they’re still a helluva team without him.”
Stephen Curry Goes NUCLEAR Late in Warriors' Win Over Bucks
Up Next
The Dubs remain home for another nationally televised game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday (7 p.m.; ESPN, NBCSBA).
MORE NOTABLES:
- Golden State and Milwaukee split the team’s season-series 1-1, with each team winning on their home floor… The Warriors have won three-straight home games vs. the Bucks and seven of the last 10 games played in the Bay Area.
- The Warriors won their seventh consecutive home game… They have won 11 of their last 12 games at Chase Center, improving to 28-7 at home overall.
- Golden State improved to 2-3 in overtime games this season (2-0 at home)… The Warriors 14 points marked the most they have scored in an overtime period this season (prev. 12, 1/19 at BOS).
- The Warriors improved to 23-6 when scoring 120-plus points.
- Golden State’s 12 steals were one shy of the team’s season-high mark of 13 (1/10 vs. PHX).
- The Warriors improved to 3-0 when grabbing 60-or-more rebounds… Their 65 rebounds were four shy of their season-high mark of 69 (1/2 vs. ATL – 2OT).
- The Warriors dished out 33 assists, matching Denver for the most 30-assist games this season with 35.
- Golden State made 23 3-pointers to improve to 12-4 this season when making 20-or-more 3-pointers in a game.
- Three Warriors grabbed at least 10 rebounds (Kevon Looney with 15, Draymond Green had 13 and Donte DiVincenzo with 10), marking the first time since 12/27/18 vs. Portland in overtime (Draymond Green with 11, Looney had 10 and Kevin Durant with 10), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
- Tonight marked the Warriors’ 465th consecutive sellout (regular season and playoffs), the longest sellout streak in franchise history.
- Stephen Curry posted a game-high 36 points, his 22nd game of 30-or-more points this season… He logged a season-high-tying 43 minutes (done three times)… Curry made six 3-pointers, extending his NBA-record streak of making at least one 3-pointer to 231 regular season games.
- Donte DiVincenzo made a career-high-tying six threes (4/8/21 at DAL w/ MIL)… Tonight marked his third double-double of the season, including his fourth outing of 20-plus points and third game with double-figure rebounds… Tonight marked his 11th consecutive appearance in the starting lineup.
- Draymond Green recorded a season-high-tying 13 rebounds (done five times), his 13th game this season 10-or-more rebounds… He also dished out a game-high nine assists.
- Andre Iguodala grabbed a season-high five rebounds (prev. four, 1/13 at SAS).
- Kevon Looney tallied his 26th game of double-figure rebounds, a career-high mark… Tonight marked his 179th consecutive regular season game, the NBA’s second-longest active streak (Mikal Bridges, 377)… Looney recorded a career-high five steals (prev. four, twice).
- JaMychal Green scored a season-high 18 points (prev. 15, twice)… He matched a season-high with four-made threes (on six attempts).