With the season winding down and holding just a 1 1/2 game lead over the trailing Dallas Mavericks, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors could ill-afford to lose Tuesday’s game on the road at the American Airlines Center.
After an inexplicable loss against the New York Knicks on Sunday, the Warriors knew another loss – particularly to the Mavericks – would put them in a neck and neck battle for the remainder of the season with three other teams just to make it back to the playoffs. Golden State came out blazing and shot 55 percent or better from the field for much of the game despite having to play without David Lee and Andrew Bogut, but Dallas was ready for the challenge. Dirk Nowitzki, for the most part, had his way with 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field – including six-of-eight from the 3-point line – to go with 11 rebounds and three assists. Monta Ellis was also highly effective against his former team with 27 points and six assists. The Warriors countered with a number of weapons: Klay Thompson had 27 points, five rebounds and five assists, Andre Iguodala had 16 points on seven-of-nine shooting to go with eight rebounds and seven assists, Jermaine O’Neal turned back the clock with 20 points and eight rebounds, Jordan Crawford had 19 points on an impressive seven-of-10 shooting, and Draymond Green did a bit of everything with nine points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
In the end, though, Curry would have the final say, as he launched a shot over Jose Calderon with virtually no time left on the clock in overtime.
In what could be considered one of the best games of the season (given the circumstances), Curry shined the brightest and even did some trash-talking to the Dallas crowd after his game-winning jump shot. The point guard ended up with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 10 assists.
Naturally, twitter was part of all the action and there were plenty of reactions as Curry hit yet another game-winner – his second one of the season against the Mavericks:
Great great great road win tonight!! #dubnation
— Marreese Speights (@Mospeights16) April 2, 2014
Baby faced assassin @stephencurry30 strikes again! — Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) April 2, 2014
@StephenCurry30 does it again — Brevin Knight (@brevinknight22) April 2, 2014
Splash Brothers=MONEY!!!! #ShootingLostArt
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) April 2, 2014
Yessssss @StephenCurry30 !!!!!!!!!!!
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) April 2, 2014
Stephen Curry just went BOSS — J.M. Poulard (@ShyneIV) April 2, 2014
Goaltend? Maybe… Curry? Definitely. Tough loss for the Mavs — Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) April 2, 2014
Closest you’ll hear to trash talk from Curry, aimed at Dallas crowd after incredible game-winner: “We out. We out. We out. I’ll see y’all!”
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 2, 2014
Steph Curry #Spalsh …wow, what a game
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) April 2, 2014
Going to need SportVU to measure the arc on that Curry game-winner. — Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) April 2, 2014
Holy moly mother Mary of…. What did Curry just do? — BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballSource) April 2, 2014
That’s a baaaaad boy, Steph Curry!!! I called it.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) April 2, 2014
Good win and happy bday to @MarkJackson13
— Andre Iguodala (@andre) April 2, 2014
Great W tonight real proud everybody on this team. Steph is too clutch #DubNation
— klay thompson (@KlayThompson) April 2, 2014
Happy bday to @MarkJackson13 and great #RoadWarriors win!
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) April 2, 2014
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James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.