Revenge: A Dish Best Served with Curry

Midway through the third quarter, the Warriors trailed the Boston Celtics, who owned the NBA's best record (20-5), by double digits in a game that they were once down by as many as 17 points. Standing at 6'6, Celtics' guard Jaylen Brown backed down 6'2 guard Stephen Curry in the post and finished strong through contact. That contact came from Curry, who drew his fifth personal foul with 6:17 remaining in the third quarter and Jaylen Brown subsequently hit him with the 'too small' celebration. At that point in the game, Curry had scored just 13 points and would spend the remainder of the quarter on the bench.

Despite risking fouling out if he picked up one more foul, Curry played the entire fourth quarter and overtime. The NBA leader in total clutch points (91) hit two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, with his second splash tying the score at 121 and sending the game into overtime. He matched his 13 points through three quarters in the fourth quarter and had seven more points in overtime, including the game-sealing splash with 10.6 seconds left. It was then time for Curry to celebrate, utilizing his signature 'Night Night' celebration, which he popularized in the 2022 NBA Playoffs in route to his fourth championship, fittingly against the Boston Celtics.

"Nothing shocks me with Steph," Head Coach Steve Kerr said, reflecting on Curry's rainbow dagger. "That shot was insane. But I fully expected it to go in and I think our fans did too. The guy’s magical. You can't explain it. It’s just the kind of stuff he does.”

Curry credited Chris Paul for his timely and accurate cross-court pass that allowed him to get the shot off before the shot clock expired.

"I saw him right as he got the ball and we kind of locked eyes," Curry said. "I was able to get my feet underneath me and then it was just a rhythm shot at that point. It was a heck of a play just knowing that we needed to get a shot up and he made the right decision."

Paul routinely made the right play all night, finishing with a game-high 12 assists and zero turnovers, becoming the only player with multiple games of at least 10 assists and zero turnovers off the bench this season.

Curry attributed his ability to play the final 17 minutes to his teammates, who were able to rise to the occasion defensively to ensure that he didn't foul out. While the Celtics still hunted switches to bait him into his sixth foul, the Warriors sent traps and double teams at Curry's man, utilizing a help and recover defensive scheme.

"When somebody's in foul trouble, it puts pressure on everybody else," Curry said. "I can't reach or give up a dumb foul, but everybody else must also be aware. They’re going to have to help and we have to rotate around. I had to play smart but credit everybody else for stepping up and having my back."

Trayce Jackson-Davis stood out in those defensive efforts, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds and tying a game-high in blocks (3).

"There were several huge plays, obviously Steph’s (Curry) shot probably being number one, but also Trayce’s block on Jaylen Brown," Kerr said, highlighting the rookie meeting Jaylen Brown at the rim for an overtime block to protect a four-point lead. "Trayce was the guy who shifted everything, plus-25 in his minutes."

Curry was the head of the snake down the stretch, but Klay Thompson also set an early tone, with 10 points in the first quarter and a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. The Splash Brothers combined for 12 3-pointers, six each.

"That's the type of win we needed to show ourselves what we can be," Curry said after the Dubs secured their largest comeback win of the season. "We have to keep putting it together, but team effort, baby, we needed that."