In a thrilling NBA matchup, Stephen Curry showcased his incredible skills by scoring 40 points, including a remarkable long-range shot from just inside the halfcourt, as the Golden State Warriors emerged victorious over the Brooklyn Nets with a final score of 121-119 on Thursday night.
The Warriors, with key contributions from Jimmy Butler, who added 25 points, overcame a daunting 22-point deficit to secure the win, marking their third victory this season despite trailing by at least 20 points at one stage.
Since the addition of Butler on February 8, Golden State has been in impressive form, recording a 10-2 run after a major rally saw them overturn a 24-point shortfall against Chicago. In this game, Cam Johnson led Brooklyn with 26 points, while Cam Thomas contributed 23 points. However, the Nets were unable to hold their initial advantage, even though they started strongly by making 10 of their first 11 shots to achieve an early 27-5 lead. The Warriors, starting sluggishly, eventually seized momentum in the game’s final quarter.
Among the standouts for Golden State was Gary Payton II, who contributed 16 points and nine rebounds, donning a mask after missing the previous game due to a broken nose. The team, however, faced a setback when their starting guard, Brandin Podziemski, exited the game early with lower back soreness. The Nets, despite certain strengths, found themselves outperformed at the free-throw line, where Butler and Curry combined achieved more success than the entire Nets team.
A defining moment in the game occurred with Curry’s breathtaking shot to end the first half. He received a pass from Butler and, without hesitation, launched a successful shot from 38 feet, immediately running towards the locker room as the ball swished through the net with 0.3 seconds to spare. This stellar play was just one highlight of a game attended by a record-breaking crowd of 18,413 at the Barclays Center since its opening in 2012.
Looking forward, the Warriors will return home to host a seven-game series beginning with Detroit on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Nets will aim to regain their footing in their upcoming match against Charlotte on the same night.
