Stephen Curry dropped 52 points in a vintage performance that powered the Golden State Warriors past the Memphis Grizzlies, 134-125, in a critical Western Conference clash on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).
The 37-year-old Curry drained 12 three-pointers—just two short of the single-game record of 14 set by former teammate Klay Thompson in 2018—cementing his status as the league’s undisputed long-range king.
“The guy’s 37 years old, it’s incredible,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “Fifty-two points with people draped all over him all game long. The conditioning, the skill, the audacity, the belief—it’s incredible to watch Steph at work.”
Curry’s explosive night marked his second 50-point outing this season and the 15th of his career, lifting the Warriors to fifth place in the Western Conference standings at 44-31.
The win was crucial as it pushed Golden State past Memphis (44-32) in the race for the top six, which guarantees an automatic playoff spot.
Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 36 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22.
While Curry dazzled in Memphis, the night’s most dramatic moment came in Denver, where Nikola Jokic poured in a career-best 61 points in a double-overtime heartbreaker against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic completed his 31st triple-double of the season with 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but the Denver Nuggets still fell, 140-139.
With the Nuggets leading 139-138 in the dying seconds, Denver’s Russell Westbrook missed a crucial layup, and Minnesota’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker grabbed the rebound with nine seconds left.
Westbrook then fouled Alexander-Walker on a desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer.
The Canadian calmly sank two of three free throws to steal the win for the Timberwolves.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards had 34 points, while Alexander-Walker and Julius Randle each scored 26.
The victory kept the Timberwolves in the thick of the playoff race, tied with Memphis at 44-32, but behind Golden State in seventh due to tiebreakers.
Denver, already assured of a playoff berth, dropped to 53-23, still second in the West.
Out East, Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 37 points as the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a four-game skid by defeating the Phoenix Suns, 133-123.
The Suns (35-41) slid to 11th in the West, one game behind the Sacramento Kings (36-39) for the final play-in tournament spot.
The Indiana Pacers also secured a playoff slot after the Atlanta Hawks lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, 127-113.
Indiana improved to 44-31, locking in a top-six finish in the Eastern Conference with less than two weeks left in the regular season, which ends April 13.
