Warriors' Stephen Curry Drains Record 16 3-Pointers During 2022 NBA All-Star Game
Feb 21, 2022
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 20: Stephen Curry #30 of Team LeBron reacts in the first half during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry not only broke Paul George's NBA record for most three-pointers (nine) in a single All-Star Game, but he shattered it during Sunday's showcase event from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
Curry, who was on Team LeBron, tallied eight triples on 11 shots from beyond the arc before halftime to lead all players with 24 points. He both tied and broke George's record in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
Steph just broke the record for most 3-point FGs made in a game. Sheesh https://t.co/907iG6lEwF
Curry finished the game with 16 triples, which propelled him to a 50-point effort. He narrowly missed out on the All-Star single-game record of 52 points, set by Anthony Davis in 2017, but his jaw-dropping night still earned him MVP honors.
Curry, who is playing in his eighth All-Star Game, is one of the most prolific three-point shooters in NBA history. He passed Ray Allen earlier this season to become the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made and is currently over the 3,000 mark.
Curry is averaging 25.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent from deep in 54 games.
The 33-year-old is also once again in the MVP conversation this season as he's led the Warriors to a 42-17 record, good for second in the Western Conference behind the Phoenix Suns.
The idea of the Golden State Warriors buying big at the 2022 NBA trade deadline dissipated long before the actual buzzer sounded...
Stephen Curry: Kevin Durant 'Wasn’t Just Some Hired Gun' During Warriors Run
Feb 16, 2022
BROOKLYN, NY - NOVEMBER 16: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets talks with Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the game on November 16, 2021 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Stephen Curry has a different perspective than a lot of outsiders do about Kevin Durant's time with the Golden State Warriors.
Speaking to The Ringer's Logan Murdock, Curry explained the Warriors really worked to integrate Durant into their style of play.
"He wasn’t just some hired gun-type vibe for us," Curry said. "We were really trying to integrate him into how we do things."
Following Durant's departure from the Warriors as a free agent in the summer of 2019, some analysts were criticizing him for only looking out for his best interests.
"I feel like KD was always just a mercenary in this," former NBA guard Raja Bell said in July 2019 on the Kanell & Bell podcast (h/t CBS Sports). "I felt like he was always going there, he was going to try to stack championships while he could get 'em. I always think that he felt that it was just that window of time, that he would maximize it the best he could, and then he was probably going to be gone."
In April 2020, Draymond Green said on the WRTS: After Party show (h/t ESPN's Nick Friedell) there was some internal friction for the Warriors during Durant's final season with the team because of his decision to only sign a one-year extension that had a player option in the summer of 2018:
But you can't just leave the elephant in the room, because what happened was the question came to us every day, like every time we spoke to the media, Klay and myself was asked about our contract. It was strictly due to Kevin, because while that was going on, Klay was saying, 'I want to be a Warrior forever. I want to be here. We started this thing. This is where I want to be.' I'm saying, 'Yo, I want to be here for my career. We started this, we built this, I want to finish my career here with the guys I started it with.' And then you kind of had Kevin, [saying] like, 'I don't know what I'm going to do next year, and it don't matter'; but it does matter, because you're not the only person that has to answer that question.
After the Warriors lost to the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals—Durant suffered a ruptured Achilles in Game 5 and Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6—Durant elected to sign with the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent.
Despite the unceremonious end to Durant's time in Golden State, the three-year partnership was one of the most successful runs in recent NBA history. The Warriors won back-to-back titles in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
The 2016-17 team had the third-best net rating in NBA history (11.6), trailing only the Chicago Bulls in 1995-96 (13.4) and 1996-97 (12.0). Their 13.5 net rating in the postseason is second in league history, behind the 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers (13.8).
Durant was named Finals MVP during both championship seasons.
Eventually, at some point this season, the NBA 's MVP ladder may not require us to agonize over the order and the ultimate winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy. Now, as it turns out, is not that time...
Warriors' Stephen Curry Picks Burrow, Bengals to Beat Stafford, Rams in Super Bowl 56
Feb 13, 2022
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) brings the ball up court in the first half during an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry picked the Cincinnati Bengals to beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday.
According to Kylen Mills of KRON4 News, Curry referenced Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in saying: "Joe Shiesty, is that his nickname? I'm going with the Bengals. I'm going with the Bengals."
Curry knows a thing or two about winning championships, as the two-time NBA MVP has led the Warriors to three NBA titles during his career.
He also has the Dubs off to a 42-15 start this season, which is the second-best record in the league.
Meanwhile, the quarterbacks playing in Sunday's Super Bowl have never competed in the big game during their respective careers.
Burrow, who is only in his second NFL season, has led the Bengals on an impressive run that included them upsetting Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in the AFC Championship Game.
Matthew Stafford is in the midst of his 13th NFL season, but this is his first with the Rams after spending the first 12 with the Detroit Lions. The 34-year-old had never won a playoff game before this season, but now he has the Rams one victory away from a championship.
Super Bowl LVI, which is taking place in the Rams' home venue of SoFi Stadium, will air Sunday on NBC at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Donovan Mitchell, Jazz Use Dominant Defense to Blow Out Stephen Curry, Warriors
Feb 10, 2022
Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) and Hassan Whiteside (21) high-five during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Utah Jazz have won four straight games after crushing the visiting Golden State Warriors 111-85 on Wednesday at Salt Lake City's Vivint Arena.
Jazz wing Bojan Bogdanovic led all scorers with 23 points. Donovan Mitchell finished two assists shy of a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight dimes.
Hassan Whiteside led a tremendous defensive effort with seven blocks in addition to his nine points and 17 rebounds.
Utah outscored Golden State 56-36 in the second half and held the Dubs to 35.9 percent shooting. The Jazz also outscored Golden State 48-20 in the paint.
Golden State played without shooting guard Klay Thompson (rest). The five-time All-Star played a season-high 29 minutes on Monday as he continues his comeback after missing two years with ACL and Achilles injuries.
The Warriors also were without Draymond Green, who has missed 16 straight games with a lower back injury.
This marked Utah's first game since ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on a three-team deal involving the Jazz, San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Utah will reportedly receive Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Blazers and San Antonio Spurs forward Juancho Hernagomez in exchange for Joe Ingles and Elijah Hughes, who are headed to Portland. Utah is also sending a 2022 second-round pick to Portland and a 2027 second-rounder to the Spurs.
Neither of Utah's additions suited up Wednesday. The Jazz also played without Rudy Gobert (left calf strain) for the eighth straight game.
The 34-21 Jazz have bounced back strong in response to a five-game losing streak and currently hold down the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference.
The 41-14 Warriors' nine-game win streak broke with the loss.
Notable Performances
Warriors G Jordan Poole: 18 points
Warriors G Stephen Curry: 16 points, 7 rebounds
Warriors F Andrew Wiggins: 13 points
Jazz F Bogdan Bogdanovic: 23 points, 6 rebounds
Jazz G Donovan Mitchell: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists
Jazz C Hassan Whiteside: 9 points, 17 rebounds, 7 blocks
Led By Whiteside, Jazz Defense Overwhelms Warriors
The Jazz allowed 13 points in the first three minutes of this game. They proceeded to hold the Warriors to 72 points over the last 45 minutes as the Jazz dominated on the defensive end.
Whiteside set the tone when he entered the game in the first quarter. Soon afterward, he stole the ball from Stephen Curry, and Trent Forrest picked it up for a bucket the other way.
He was a catalyst for the team's turnaround after the Jazz found themselves in an early hole.
Warriors exploited Hassan Whiteside for a few wide open 3s in the first half, but Jazz generally beat up the Warriors (+11) with him on the floor. Whiteside had six blocks in 14 minutes. Warriors opened game on a 13-0 run, down six at half.
He even flirted with a triple-double and was asked about that postgame:
Hassan Whiteside, when asked if he thought he might get a triple-double: “Yeah, I thought I might. But the blocks get tough. They were attacking me a lot more early in the game. (As it went on), they started doing crazy stuff.”
The Jazz ended up outscoring the Warriors by 35 points with Whiteside on the court. Simply put, he was this game's MVP as Utah cruised to victory.
Blip on the Radar for Warriors; Kuminga Excels
Games like Wednesday's ugly loss have been very few and far between this year. It's only the 10th time in which Golden State scored fewer than 100 points and the third occasion where the Dubs had under 90.
Given that the team was (a) shorthanded, (b) playing on the road, (c) facing a very good team on a winning streak and (d) have been in great form prior to Wednesday, there isn't much to be overly concerned about. It's just one bad game amid what's been an excellent three-week stretch.
If there's one positive to take away, it's the continued good play from rookie Jonathan Kuminga, who entered Wednesday averaging 17.7 points in 26.0 minutes over his last three games.
He continued to showcase his tremendous potential and added 12 more points off the bench, including a pair of threes:
It's hard to take away anything good from twenty-six point losses, but it's easy to see why Kuminga might end up being a central piece to this team's future over the next decade-plus. For now, he's an excellent bench contributor for a championship-contending team and a potential postseason X-factor.
What's Next?
Both teams will play at home next.
Golden State will welcome the New York Knicks into San Francisco's Chase Center on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.
Utah will host the Orlando Magic on Friday at 9 p.m.
There was a point when it seemed the Golden State Warriors could rank among the most aggressive buyers at the 2022 NBA trade deadline. Now that it's deadline week, though, a major deal seems like the furthest thing from the Dubs' mind...
Klay Thompson: I Get Chills Thinking About How Good Warriors Can Be at Full Strength
Feb 8, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 07: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 7, 2022 at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
Monday's game felt like old times for the Golden State Warriors.
While the stakes weren't nearly as high as when Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Co. went into Oklahoma City and stunned the Thunder in Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, there was still something familiar about the Splash Brothers' leading the way in the 110-98 road win.
And another championship pursuit could be coming if Thompson is to be believed.
"It gives me chills thinking about how good we can be at full strength," he told reporters after the game.
Thompson led his team with 21 points, while Curry just missed a triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. They combined for seven made three-pointers and helped Golden State improve to 41-13.
That head-turning record has come while Thompson and Draymond Green have eached missed significant time because of injuries. Perhaps a fully healthy Warriors squad really will induce chills come playoff time.
NBA All-Star Game 2022: Early Mock Draft for Team LeBron vs. Team Durant
Feb 4, 2022
Team LeBron's LeBron James, of the Los Angeles Lakers, celebrates a basket against Team Giannis during the second half of an NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
LeBron James is seeking his fifth straight win as an All-Star Game captain and his second against Kevin Durant, but the 2022 All-Star Game could come down to the draft.
The full list of All-Stars from each conference was announced Thursday, providing the pool of eight starters and 14 reserves for the two captains.
All that's left is determining the rosters for each team through the All-Star draft, which will take place on Feb. 10 on TNT.
Team LeBron will get the first pick after the Los Angeles Lakers star led the fan vote once again, totaling 9,128,231 votes. It could give him an advantage over Team Durant as he looks to follow up on last year's 170-150 dominant performance.
Here is a prediction for the upcoming player draft for the Feb. 20 game.
2. Durant: Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors
3. LeBron: Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies
4. Durant: Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
5. LeBron: DeMar DeRozan, G, Chicago Bulls
6. Durant: Trae Young, G, Atlanta Hawks
7. LeBron: Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
8. Durant: Andrew Wiggins, F, Golden State Warriors
When these two captains picked teams a year ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo was LeBron's first overall pick and then went on to become MVP of the All-Star Game with 35 points on 16-of-16 shooting. It seemed like a good pick at the time, and it's a great one the second time around.
Durant picked his teammate Kyrie Irving with the second pick last year, but he doesn't have any Brooklyn Nets to choose from as starters. That could allow him to pick his former teammate Stephen Curry.
With Durant unlikely to play in the game due to a knee injury, his side will need scoring. No one available can provide that as much as Curry.
The third pick becomes a tougher call, especially with Joel Embiid and Ja Morant both playing at an MVP level. The difference could be LeBron seeming to be more of a fan of Morant than Embiid.
Personal preference could also put DeMar DeRozan high on LeBron's draft board. He nearly joined the Lakers this summer before instead signing with the Chicago Bulls.
That helps Durant put together an exciting team that can pour in points between Curry, Embiid and Trae Young.
10. LeBron: Darius Garland, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
11. Durant: Khris Middleton, F, Milwaukee Bucks
12. LeBron: Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz
13. Durant: Fred VanVleet, G, Toronto Raptors
14. LeBron: Draymond Green, F, Golden State Warriors (Will Need Injury Replacement)
Durant finally gets a chance to select a teammate in James Harden, just like he did in last year's draft. The two haven't gotten as much on-court time together as expected over the past two seasons, but the relationship is still there.
With the second pick of the reserves, don't be surprised to see LeBron take another friend in Chris Paul. The one-time All-Star Game MVP has the ability to throw some perfect lobs to his high-flying teammates in this exhibition.
Luka Doncic becomes a steal this late in the draft as one of the top overall talents in the NBA.
A group of high-scoring guards come next, with Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Zach LaVine and Donovan Mitchell, all capable of lighting up the scoreboard in the upcoming exhibition. They can rain threes throughout the game and provide a lot of help to whichever team lands them.
Team LeBron also adds some defense with its picks of Jimmy Butler and Rudy Gobert, which could help as the game has transformed from essentially a pickup contest to one with a bit more intensity. They each could be valuable in the fourth quarter if the game comes down to a few baskets.
Darius Garland is the Cleveland Cavaliers' first All-Star since James left in 2018, so don't be surprised to see him also end up on Team LeBron.
Team Durant will get some versatile players in Karl-Anthony Towns, Khris Middleton and Fred VanVleet, who can help on both ends of the court.
Draymond Green announced on TNT that he will not participate in the All-Star Game due to his back injury, but LeBron could get his injury replacement when announced. Potential options include Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dejounte Murray as representatives from the Western Conference.
Team LeBron Roster
LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers
Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks
Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies
DeMar DeRozan, G, Chicago Bulls
Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
Chris Paul, G, Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns
Zach LaVine, G, Chicago Bulls
Jimmy Butler, F, Miami Heat
Darius Garland, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz
Draymond Green, F, Golden State Warriors (Will Need Injury Replacement)
