A recent nba.com General Manager survey named Stephen Curry the player league executives most want to take the final shot with the game on the line. In Wednesday's thrilling 116-115 victory over the Kings, Curry didn't just take the Warriors’ last shot — he took and made all the pivotal shots down the stretch to pull off an improbable 18-point comeback. He out-dueled the NBA's reigning Clutch Player of the Year, De'Aaron Fox, with 16 points in the fourth quarter (13 in the final two minutes) and hit all four of his 3-pointers, including the game-winner.
“It’s time to go home and put the kids to bed,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area following his walkoff shot and signature 'Night Night' celebration.
Highlights: Stephen Curry Scores 30 Points and Hits Game-Winner
Curry led all scorers with 30 points in 31 minutes and sank eight 3-pointers.
The two-time MVP had 14 points through three quarters and checked into the fourth with 7:18 remaining and facing a double-digit deficit.
On his first offensive possession of the quarter, Curry used a crafty behind-the-back dribble to evade pesky defender Davion Mitchell, avoided the screen Moses Moody was prepared to set and attacked the center of the defense. He then hit Tayce Jackson-Davis with a timely bounce pass for a dunk.
Curry's Crafty Dish
Still trailing by 10 with 4:46 left, he splashed in a 3-pointer over Fox despite contact on his right shooting shoulder.
Curry's 3-Pointer Through Contact
Fast forward to two minutes remaining and the Dubs had cut the deficit to seven. It was now or never if the Warriors were going to make a late push in a game that Curry would later call “a dress rehearsal” for the regular season. Chris Paul walked the ball across the timeline and set up the offense. Curry used an off-ball screen from Dario Šarić and flashed to the left wing. Paul found him, and Curry used a ball fake, getting Kevin Huerter in the air before calmly hitting the trey — four-point game.
Curry Got Huerter Jumping
After a defensive stop, Curry and Paul were again in tandem. This time, the Splash Brother took the 6'7 Huerter in the post, hitting a fall-away Dirk Nowitzki-esque one-foot jumper over the larger defender — one-possession game.
Curry Post-Fade
On the other end, Fox, who also had 14 points going into the fourth, converted a driving layup, giving him 11 in the quarter and 25 for the game — Kings up by four, timeout Warriors.
Curry wasted no time following the timeout, banking in a three despite being swarmed by two Kings defenders and joyfully celebrated down the court. This game still had a long way to go, however.
Curry Banks it in
Mitchell missed his 3-point attempt and Šarić recovered the loose ball and was fouled by Domantas Sabonis, with the Dubs in the bonus. He missed both free throws and it was the Warriors who were left hoping for a miss.
Huerter obliged, missing his second free throw, giving the Dubs a chance to tie or take the lead.
"I was going for the win," Curry said.
Isolated against Fox, Curry caught him leaning with a step-back and launched from well beyond the 3-point line — all net.
Curry's Game Winner
“The fourth quarter was exactly what it was supposed to look like," Curry said postgame.
He mentioned liking having a floor general like Chris Paul who could control the flow of the offense, allowing the Splash Brother to hunt for his shot and free himself open off-ball.
Even though it was a preseason game and the Warriors had already won three, building those winning habits and fighting until the end was about molding the team's identity for this season.
“Everything we do in the preseason is trying to develop an identity,” Curry said. “We all want to win and that’s the bottom line.”
The Warriors will look to remain undefeated this preseason when they host the Spurs on Friday in their final tune-up before the regular season tips off on Opening Night at home on Tuesday against the Suns.